Why A Functional Resume Layout Is Suited For A Fresh Graduate
Perhaps one of the biggest achievements you can accomplish and be proud of is graduating from university or college. As a fresh graduate, you take pride in knowing that all your efforts in studying and enduring sleepless nights to finish off a project have eventually paid off. You are ready and prepared to face the corporate world and enter another chapter of your life as a working employee. You start looking for a job but suddenly become stumped. How are you going to get a job when most of the job openings require a certain degree of experience? And you have none.
As a fresh college graduate - a new engineer, teacher, nurse, accountant, information technologist, dentist, architect, etc. - you are best suited for entry-level jobs. At this stage, prospective employers generally expect that you have a college degree and that your major is relevant and in line with the type of job position you are seeking. They would expect you to have some general work experience acquired through part-time or summer jobs, volunteering works and the like. Prospective employers also generally like to know that you have character and work references, be it your teachers, professors and supervisors. Your references will help them in assessing your professional attitudes, work ethics and the skills that you have to offer.
So what is the best method to highlight all these accomplishments? This is where a functional resume layout is very well suited.
A functional resume layout is ideal for someone who is just fresh out of college. A functional resume layout puts more focus on your skills and qualifications rather than your professional work history, which as a recent college graduate, you have none. A functional resume layout highlights the competencies and skills you have rather than when you were employed and where you used and acquired these skills. So instead of seeing a list of employment records with job titles and duties, a functional resume layout will display sections with skills and competencies as headings. This could include skills in customer relations, customer service, people management, project management and so on.
In short, a functional resume layout is highly recommended for people just trying to enter into the workforce. In fact, a functional resume layout is the most common resume layout used by college students and graduates who want to apply for internship and want to land their first work experience after college.
How to Make a Functional Resume Layout
1. The first thing that you need to formulate when starting with a functional resume layout is your resume objective statement or career objective. Make sure that your career objective is personal and suited to the type of role that you are seeking. In fact, it is best to customize your career objective statement to fit in with the role that you are a currently seeking for a particular company. A functional resume layout for fresh graduates and first timers becomes more effective if your career objective statement clearly indicates how your education and skills can be utilized in the satisfactory performance of the role and how the position can help you develop more skills and experience.
2. Your educational background should come next in a functional resume layout. Write down the name of the university or college that you attended, its location, when you graduated and the major that you have undertaken. If you received honors and achievement awards, it is advisable to include them as this shows that you excel in what you do and would likely carry it on to your job performance. Trainings and seminars attended can also be included in a functional resume layout. This is especially applicable if the trainings and seminars that you have undertaken are relevant to the position that you are seeking.
3. The next step in structuring a functional resume layout is to write down your professional skills and competencies. This is what differentiates a functional resume layout from a chronological resume layout. So instead of listing down work experiences, make subheadings using your key skills and competencies that you want to highlight and are applicable to the role. Focus on skills that are relevant to the position. You can usually find this out in the job advertisement, as most employers tend to list skill requirements for a role.
So if you are good at customer relations and you are applying for a role that requires this competency, then use a functional resume layout to highlight this skill. Make a subheading "Customer Relations". Then proceed to enumerate tasks and duties you performed that support and validate this skill. Think of part-time and summer jobs you performed, community involvements, volunteer works, school clubs and activities you participated in. There are certainly a lot of skills you will have learned from them that you can apply to the role you want. Use these in a functional resume layout to get your job application noticed. For example, if you have editing skills learned from being the school editor of the school's publication then you can point this out especially if you are applying for a position in the publishing industry. A functional resume layout is very effective if done properly.
4. The last section of a functional resume layout is dedicated to listing your references. As a fresh graduate, it is advisable to include resume references with your job application especially if you have already been in contact with the prospective employer and they asked you to hand in a job application. This facilitates in the immediate processing of your job application rather than the employer having to contact you again to ask for references. A functional resume layout must include a section for references.
Now that we have discussed the basic structure of a functional resume layout and how to make one, the next thing that needs to be done is act on the information you just learned. If it still sounds vague and you need some functional resume layout samples that can guide you in making your own, then you can always search for it in the internet using the popular search engines like google and yahoo. We're pretty sure that you will be presented with a lot of useful samples of a functional resume layout that you can start out with.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
How to Write References For A Resume
Probably, one of the most abused statement in resume writing is the phrase "References will be provided upon request". Is this the best way on how to write references for a resume? Or is it absolutely important to include the names and contact details of work references in a resume?
If you ask the opinions and views of career experts and advisers, you will be surprised that a lot of them will be divided on the issue of how to write references for a resume. Some advisers believe that such a phrase on how to write references for a resume is enough considering that it is basically telling employers that you can immediately provide work references if asked. These advisers believe that recruiters and prospective employers will contact the references on the resume only if they feel that a certain applicant is the person they want to give the job to. And if they do decide to consider giving you the job, they will most certainly ask for your work references to verify your professional credentials.
Some career advisers, on the other hand, certainly do not agree on this method of how to write references for a resume. These advisers believe that using such a phrase on the section for resume references is inappropriate, as you are not giving prospective employers and recruiters all the required details to continue processing your job application. These experts ascertain that resume references must be provided for every job application you submit. And they do not agree that using such a phrase is not the best way on how to write references for a resume. For them, providing immediate references on your resume will give employers all the needed details to further go on with assessing your credentials and how you fit in to the role.
Having two separate sides of the issue on how to write references for a resume, which of the two methods should you follow and implement on your written resume. Exactly, which is the best method on how to write references for a resume that will give you a better chance of landing that engineering position, teaching position, nursing position, accounting position, restaurant position or a managerial position you have been longing for? Not everyone has the same professional level and expertise. Some are engineers, some are architects, executives, production workers, nurses, teachers, clerks, accountants, cooks, IT professionals, office workers, administrative assistants, internet experts, editors, proofreaders, draftspersons, salesperson, and so much more. With different professional levels and expertise, do you have different methods on how to write references for a resume?
With all the debate going around on how to write references for a resume, there is only one important point that you have to keep in mind - you must have a section for references in your resume just like you need to have your resume objective statement.
Deciding how to write references for a resume, however, largely depends on the current situation that you are in. But it will be for your own good to let the references listed on your resume know that you are providing their contact details to prospective employers. It is also wise and prudent to let them know what position and kind of job you are applying for. At least, your resume references will not be caught completely by surprise when called by a certain employer and they will not be able to know what to talk about. It is also considered good manners to inform them beforehand because it is their contact details that you are providing recruiters and employers alike. This is one good advice on how to write references for a resume that you must not ignore.
When using resume banks and job search websites, what do you think is the best way on how to write references for a resume you intend to submit? These job sites and resume banks store data and information that is easily accessible and available to a lot of prospective employers with some you might not even be too interested in.
These resume information storage is not exactly the appropriate medium to provide the contact details of your work references. There might be employers you are not interested in working with that will get in contact with your provided resume references. You do not want that to happen, as it is only a bother to your resume references when you yourself have no plan of getting that particular role. The best method on how to write references for a resume when using these job search sites and resume banks would then be to use the generic phrase "References will be provided upon request".
As mentioned on the paragraphs above, it is not good to let your resume references to be caught unaware and completely off their guard. Listing their full names and contact information on such sites may increase the likelihood of numerous employers getting in touch with them even though you have not been in contact with that employer. The appropriate way on how to write references for a resume when in this situation would then be to stick to the most abused phrase in resume writing. Well, it works well in this situation. So stick to this safe and proven method on how to write references for a resume.
For situations and circumstances where you had previous contact with the employer via the phone or email and they require you to send in your resume for evaluation and to assess your skills and competencies, then the above method is not the most appropriate way on how to write references for a resume.
When you have been in prior contact with a prospective employer, it is always best to list your work references in the submitted resume - their complete names, designation and contact details. This is the best course of action on how to write references for a resume as you will be providing the employer with all the required details to continue with assessing your skills and this will obviously speed up the process. It will be a complete waste of time for them to get in touch with you again to ask for a list of resume references that can vouch for your character, competencies and work experiences. But never forget to tell the references you listed in your resume that you are giving their contact information and that they might receive a call regarding a job that you are applying for.
When recruiters and employers have reviewed a resume where you stated that references are available upon request and they are interested in doing an interview, bring a list of your work references in the interview. Better still, generate another copy of your resume where you have included the full names, designation and contact details of resume references. After the interview, if employers are genuinely interested in giving you the role, they often ask you to provide the names and contact information of work references to confirm your employment history and experiences. Being prepared will give them a good impression about you. Besides, it is always good practice to bring a copy of your application papers to an interview as some employers might misplace their copy or not have enough of it when more than two people are doing the interview.
In conclusion, the common phrase in resume writing is not exactly a bad statement on how to write references for a resume. It all depends on the method of submission and where you are currently at in your job-seeking venture. But is good to know the best methods on how to write references for a resume to keep you ahead of the competition.
These tips and advices are provided to you by How To Write A Resume in order to help you succeed in your job search.
If you ask the opinions and views of career experts and advisers, you will be surprised that a lot of them will be divided on the issue of how to write references for a resume. Some advisers believe that such a phrase on how to write references for a resume is enough considering that it is basically telling employers that you can immediately provide work references if asked. These advisers believe that recruiters and prospective employers will contact the references on the resume only if they feel that a certain applicant is the person they want to give the job to. And if they do decide to consider giving you the job, they will most certainly ask for your work references to verify your professional credentials.
Some career advisers, on the other hand, certainly do not agree on this method of how to write references for a resume. These advisers believe that using such a phrase on the section for resume references is inappropriate, as you are not giving prospective employers and recruiters all the required details to continue processing your job application. These experts ascertain that resume references must be provided for every job application you submit. And they do not agree that using such a phrase is not the best way on how to write references for a resume. For them, providing immediate references on your resume will give employers all the needed details to further go on with assessing your credentials and how you fit in to the role.
Having two separate sides of the issue on how to write references for a resume, which of the two methods should you follow and implement on your written resume. Exactly, which is the best method on how to write references for a resume that will give you a better chance of landing that engineering position, teaching position, nursing position, accounting position, restaurant position or a managerial position you have been longing for? Not everyone has the same professional level and expertise. Some are engineers, some are architects, executives, production workers, nurses, teachers, clerks, accountants, cooks, IT professionals, office workers, administrative assistants, internet experts, editors, proofreaders, draftspersons, salesperson, and so much more. With different professional levels and expertise, do you have different methods on how to write references for a resume?
With all the debate going around on how to write references for a resume, there is only one important point that you have to keep in mind - you must have a section for references in your resume just like you need to have your resume objective statement.
Deciding how to write references for a resume, however, largely depends on the current situation that you are in. But it will be for your own good to let the references listed on your resume know that you are providing their contact details to prospective employers. It is also wise and prudent to let them know what position and kind of job you are applying for. At least, your resume references will not be caught completely by surprise when called by a certain employer and they will not be able to know what to talk about. It is also considered good manners to inform them beforehand because it is their contact details that you are providing recruiters and employers alike. This is one good advice on how to write references for a resume that you must not ignore.
When using resume banks and job search websites, what do you think is the best way on how to write references for a resume you intend to submit? These job sites and resume banks store data and information that is easily accessible and available to a lot of prospective employers with some you might not even be too interested in.
These resume information storage is not exactly the appropriate medium to provide the contact details of your work references. There might be employers you are not interested in working with that will get in contact with your provided resume references. You do not want that to happen, as it is only a bother to your resume references when you yourself have no plan of getting that particular role. The best method on how to write references for a resume when using these job search sites and resume banks would then be to use the generic phrase "References will be provided upon request".
As mentioned on the paragraphs above, it is not good to let your resume references to be caught unaware and completely off their guard. Listing their full names and contact information on such sites may increase the likelihood of numerous employers getting in touch with them even though you have not been in contact with that employer. The appropriate way on how to write references for a resume when in this situation would then be to stick to the most abused phrase in resume writing. Well, it works well in this situation. So stick to this safe and proven method on how to write references for a resume.
For situations and circumstances where you had previous contact with the employer via the phone or email and they require you to send in your resume for evaluation and to assess your skills and competencies, then the above method is not the most appropriate way on how to write references for a resume.
When you have been in prior contact with a prospective employer, it is always best to list your work references in the submitted resume - their complete names, designation and contact details. This is the best course of action on how to write references for a resume as you will be providing the employer with all the required details to continue with assessing your skills and this will obviously speed up the process. It will be a complete waste of time for them to get in touch with you again to ask for a list of resume references that can vouch for your character, competencies and work experiences. But never forget to tell the references you listed in your resume that you are giving their contact information and that they might receive a call regarding a job that you are applying for.
When recruiters and employers have reviewed a resume where you stated that references are available upon request and they are interested in doing an interview, bring a list of your work references in the interview. Better still, generate another copy of your resume where you have included the full names, designation and contact details of resume references. After the interview, if employers are genuinely interested in giving you the role, they often ask you to provide the names and contact information of work references to confirm your employment history and experiences. Being prepared will give them a good impression about you. Besides, it is always good practice to bring a copy of your application papers to an interview as some employers might misplace their copy or not have enough of it when more than two people are doing the interview.
In conclusion, the common phrase in resume writing is not exactly a bad statement on how to write references for a resume. It all depends on the method of submission and where you are currently at in your job-seeking venture. But is good to know the best methods on how to write references for a resume to keep you ahead of the competition.
These tips and advices are provided to you by How To Write A Resume in order to help you succeed in your job search.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Resume Cover Letter - How to Do It Right
A lot of job applicants assume that they do not have to submit a resume cover letter when applying for a job. They believe that all of the information needed to assess whether they are suitable to a particular position is already in the resume. As such, they think that making a resume cover letter is a complete waste of time and that the resume cover letter only adds more to the heaps of documents that the employers have to read.
This, however, is completely untrue. Recruitment consultants, recruitment agencies, and human resources personnel normally rely on the resume cover letter to gain an insight on the job applicant and how well suited he is for the role. There are a lot of other useful and pertinent information that could help you in landing a role that can only be included and explained in the resume cover letter.
So whether you are applying for an engineering position, a teaching position, a role in a restaurant or hotel, a position in a manufacturing or production environment, or a managerial or executive position, it is always advisable to have a resume cover letter. Whatever professional level you have - engineer, accountant, teacher, manager, clerk, fresh college graduate or production worker - a resume cover letter will help you more in landing the position that you want.
If you plan to submit your job application by either fax or by mail, the resume cover letter must be the front page. The resume cover letter lets the employer know about your areas of expertise beforehand and gives them an idea of how well suited you are to the role they are currently offering. The resume cover letter also gives them some pertinent information that can help them decide whether they have to continue with reading on with the rest of your curriculum vitae.
When sending a job application by email, and the employer requires that you send your documents as part of the email, then you need to include the resume cover letter first in the body of the email. Otherwise, you can send the resume cover letter as an attachment to your email. Employers normally print out the application papers so it is best to send the resume cover letter as an attachment when they do not require you to submit your application papers as part of the email body.
No matter how you choose to send your job application papers, you must make sure that the resume cover letter does what it is intended to do and not ruin your chances of getting hired or having your application dumped outright. Your resume cover letter must present the necessary information in such a way that it will urge the employer to know more about you by reading further the rest of your job application papers. Following these important guidelines will make sure that your resume cover letter exactly does that.
Successful Resume Cover Letter Guidelines
1. The resume cover letter must always be addressed to the correct and appropriate personnel. The resume cover letter must include the addressee's complete name, job position and the department that he is in. This is not a very difficult information to find. This detail is often included in the job advertisement that you find in job search websites, online classified ads or newspaper classified ads. If it is not included, then do some research yourself. You can always give the employer a call to ask for further information. If you live nearby you can also drive to the company site and ask the guard on duty who the appropriate contact person should be in addressing your resume cover letter. The most commonly used greeting "To whom it may concern" is very unprofessional and should not be used as a greeting in your resume cover letter. It shows that you have not done your research and probably tells employers that you are not genuinely interested in the role.
2. When writing a resume cover letter, be relevant to the position that you are trying to acquire. Making a general resume cover letter that is applicable to all types of positions by stating that you are keen to accept any role that comes by does not put you in a very positive light. It shows that you have no clear directions in terms of your career goals. Specifically state the type of role that you want in the resume cover letter and why you think that you are best suited for the satisfactory performance of the role. Your resume cover letter must focus on key professional experiences and skills that are required of the position.
3. As a general guide, the resume cover letter must state why you are interested in getting the position and what you can bring in terms of skills, competencies, attitude and professional experiences needed for the satisfactory performance of the role and can help the company achieve its own goals. Employers and recruitment agencies want to know that your interest is genuine so you have to be able to express this in your resume cover letter. They need someone who will be there for the long haul and not immediately resign when some obstacles or problems are in the way. It is in their best interest to make sure that all the time and money spent on your training and hiring process are not gone to waste. They also want someone who will become a valuable asset to the company and help them attain their targets. Address these concerns in the resume cover letter.
4. Ensure that your resume cover letter does not have any misspellings, grammatical errors, incoherent sentence structures and other resume cover letter blunders. These are good reasons for having your application rejected outright. Good communication skills are often a requirement in most positions and when the sentences in your resume cover letter do not make any sense, you are exactly not projecting good communication skills. Having a lot of mistakes in your resume cover letter also indicates that you do not give too much attention to detail, which is another requirement of most job positions. To help you out, you can ask family or friends to review your resume cover letter to ensure that is free of such mistakes before you hand it to the employer. Two heads are always better than one.
5. It is better to close the resume cover letter by stating that you intend to follow up on the job application and how you plan to do so. This tells employers that you have a take-charge attitude, which is another important trait if you want to perform well in the corporate world. However, stick to what you said in your resume cover letter and actually follow up on your job application as you planned to do.
These are some of the guidelines in crafting a successful resume cover letter that could really help you in getting that engineering position, teaching position or managerial position you want. Go on and work on making a winning resume cover letter.
This, however, is completely untrue. Recruitment consultants, recruitment agencies, and human resources personnel normally rely on the resume cover letter to gain an insight on the job applicant and how well suited he is for the role. There are a lot of other useful and pertinent information that could help you in landing a role that can only be included and explained in the resume cover letter.
So whether you are applying for an engineering position, a teaching position, a role in a restaurant or hotel, a position in a manufacturing or production environment, or a managerial or executive position, it is always advisable to have a resume cover letter. Whatever professional level you have - engineer, accountant, teacher, manager, clerk, fresh college graduate or production worker - a resume cover letter will help you more in landing the position that you want.
If you plan to submit your job application by either fax or by mail, the resume cover letter must be the front page. The resume cover letter lets the employer know about your areas of expertise beforehand and gives them an idea of how well suited you are to the role they are currently offering. The resume cover letter also gives them some pertinent information that can help them decide whether they have to continue with reading on with the rest of your curriculum vitae.
When sending a job application by email, and the employer requires that you send your documents as part of the email, then you need to include the resume cover letter first in the body of the email. Otherwise, you can send the resume cover letter as an attachment to your email. Employers normally print out the application papers so it is best to send the resume cover letter as an attachment when they do not require you to submit your application papers as part of the email body.
No matter how you choose to send your job application papers, you must make sure that the resume cover letter does what it is intended to do and not ruin your chances of getting hired or having your application dumped outright. Your resume cover letter must present the necessary information in such a way that it will urge the employer to know more about you by reading further the rest of your job application papers. Following these important guidelines will make sure that your resume cover letter exactly does that.
Successful Resume Cover Letter Guidelines
1. The resume cover letter must always be addressed to the correct and appropriate personnel. The resume cover letter must include the addressee's complete name, job position and the department that he is in. This is not a very difficult information to find. This detail is often included in the job advertisement that you find in job search websites, online classified ads or newspaper classified ads. If it is not included, then do some research yourself. You can always give the employer a call to ask for further information. If you live nearby you can also drive to the company site and ask the guard on duty who the appropriate contact person should be in addressing your resume cover letter. The most commonly used greeting "To whom it may concern" is very unprofessional and should not be used as a greeting in your resume cover letter. It shows that you have not done your research and probably tells employers that you are not genuinely interested in the role.
2. When writing a resume cover letter, be relevant to the position that you are trying to acquire. Making a general resume cover letter that is applicable to all types of positions by stating that you are keen to accept any role that comes by does not put you in a very positive light. It shows that you have no clear directions in terms of your career goals. Specifically state the type of role that you want in the resume cover letter and why you think that you are best suited for the satisfactory performance of the role. Your resume cover letter must focus on key professional experiences and skills that are required of the position.
3. As a general guide, the resume cover letter must state why you are interested in getting the position and what you can bring in terms of skills, competencies, attitude and professional experiences needed for the satisfactory performance of the role and can help the company achieve its own goals. Employers and recruitment agencies want to know that your interest is genuine so you have to be able to express this in your resume cover letter. They need someone who will be there for the long haul and not immediately resign when some obstacles or problems are in the way. It is in their best interest to make sure that all the time and money spent on your training and hiring process are not gone to waste. They also want someone who will become a valuable asset to the company and help them attain their targets. Address these concerns in the resume cover letter.
4. Ensure that your resume cover letter does not have any misspellings, grammatical errors, incoherent sentence structures and other resume cover letter blunders. These are good reasons for having your application rejected outright. Good communication skills are often a requirement in most positions and when the sentences in your resume cover letter do not make any sense, you are exactly not projecting good communication skills. Having a lot of mistakes in your resume cover letter also indicates that you do not give too much attention to detail, which is another requirement of most job positions. To help you out, you can ask family or friends to review your resume cover letter to ensure that is free of such mistakes before you hand it to the employer. Two heads are always better than one.
5. It is better to close the resume cover letter by stating that you intend to follow up on the job application and how you plan to do so. This tells employers that you have a take-charge attitude, which is another important trait if you want to perform well in the corporate world. However, stick to what you said in your resume cover letter and actually follow up on your job application as you planned to do.
These are some of the guidelines in crafting a successful resume cover letter that could really help you in getting that engineering position, teaching position or managerial position you want. Go on and work on making a winning resume cover letter.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Resume Tips To Control Length
Good Resume Tips to Have the Appropriate Number of Pages
A common misconception among many job seekers and one of the common resume tips being circulated around is that they should try and fit all of their relevant employment details and competencies in one sheet of paper. Pretty tough, considering that many have more than five years of relevant work experience. They believe that an employer's time and attention is only limited to a single page and that increasing resume length can diminish their chances of being noticed. Many will try and follow these resume tips and squeeze every amount of information in a short sentence and make use of smaller font types in order to have a resume consisting of only one page.
There are those too who make a job application document like they are sending an essay with a resume consisting of no less than three pages or more. These job seekers put in all work related information they can think of and some unrelated ones like hobbies and interests which have no weight on the position they are applying for. They have probably learned of these resume tips somewhere and are thinking that the longer they make their application papers, the better it is. Well, it is not. And employers and job recruiters alike would probably get bored reading it especially if most of the information contained in it is purely rubbish and does not relate to the role.
One of the good resume tips is to make sure that your application is well worded while keeping it concise and straight to the point. Most of the time, it will not be very easy to fit all your credentials in one page. If you have a long employment history, cramming it all up in one page is not a very good idea. One of the well-known resume tips is to keep the length of your resume to two pages the most. This is one of the resume tips that is well founded because it is generally what most employers prefer. However, do not limit yourself to these resume tips and keep it to two pages if you have enough reason to make it so. This is especially true if you are already in a managerial or executive level position and you have countless experience and competencies learned along the way.
So what are good resume tips to maintain the appropriate number of pages?
1. As mentioned above, one of the good resume tips to follow is to properly word your sentences. Keep it short while making sure it conveys the correct message across and goes straight to the point. Avoid flowery words. You can use that creativity somewhere else.
2. Another of the resume tips that will do your application justice is to stick to relevant and pertinent information. Avoid putting in details that are not important in assessing your suitability to a particular position. These include hobbies and interests that do not help in the satisfactory performance of a job. Some resume tips you have read might encourage you to put a section for hobbies and interests. But it is important to note that employers are more interested if you can perform your tasks satisfactorily and your hobbies and interest normally does not address that but only keeps your resume longer.
3. Longer is not generally better. If you are new to the job market or are changing careers and do not have enough experience to fill in two pages, then keep it at one page. Provide only information that could help you land the role. Do not stuff your resume with irrelevant details just to make it to two pages in length. One of the good resume tips is to keep it short but relevant.
4. One of the resume tips commonly mentioned is to list a maximum of five previous positions that you have held in the course of your employment. These resume tips are advised because most employers would generally prefer someone with the most recent experience in the job position being offered. If you are an employer, it would make perfect sense to use these resume tips on listing employment history. One who has just recently been exposed to the tasks required of a role would be more likely to perform better than someone who had experience with it five years ago. For all we know, he might have forgotten some of the small details in performing the task.
5. You need to properly format your submitted resume. This is one of the good resume tips that you should not ignore. Employers are people and people are normally visual beings. We often prefer something that is pleasing to the eyes. One of the good resume tips to control the length of your resume is to use the appropriate text size and fonts. Not too small to warrant the use of a magnifying glass and not too big either like it is shouting to the employer. Another of the good resume tips is to make good use of proper margins. Leave enough white space on the top, bottom, right and left side of the page. These resume tips will ensure that your submitted job application is easier to read, not too crowded and looks presentable.
6. If you cannot help but make a resume that is beyond the normal two pages in length, make sure that is well warranted for. Resume tips on ideal length are meant to increase your chances of being hired. If you do stray from these common resume tips and make your application longer, it must be justifiable. As mentioned in the third paragraph, not going with these resume tips on a two-page length is justified for professionals who are holding managerial and executive level positions. They generally have extensive professional work experiences and have years of employment history to speak of. Fitting all that in two pages is hard enough without omitting some key competencies. However, one of the resume tips to keep in mind is to list only relevant information with the most important ones probably in the first page where it is easily noticed.
These are some of the good resume tips to ensure that your job application papers are not too lengthy and discourage employers from reading it. Follow these resume tips on appropriate length and number of pages. Increase your chances of landing the job with these resume tips.
A common misconception among many job seekers and one of the common resume tips being circulated around is that they should try and fit all of their relevant employment details and competencies in one sheet of paper. Pretty tough, considering that many have more than five years of relevant work experience. They believe that an employer's time and attention is only limited to a single page and that increasing resume length can diminish their chances of being noticed. Many will try and follow these resume tips and squeeze every amount of information in a short sentence and make use of smaller font types in order to have a resume consisting of only one page.
There are those too who make a job application document like they are sending an essay with a resume consisting of no less than three pages or more. These job seekers put in all work related information they can think of and some unrelated ones like hobbies and interests which have no weight on the position they are applying for. They have probably learned of these resume tips somewhere and are thinking that the longer they make their application papers, the better it is. Well, it is not. And employers and job recruiters alike would probably get bored reading it especially if most of the information contained in it is purely rubbish and does not relate to the role.
One of the good resume tips is to make sure that your application is well worded while keeping it concise and straight to the point. Most of the time, it will not be very easy to fit all your credentials in one page. If you have a long employment history, cramming it all up in one page is not a very good idea. One of the well-known resume tips is to keep the length of your resume to two pages the most. This is one of the resume tips that is well founded because it is generally what most employers prefer. However, do not limit yourself to these resume tips and keep it to two pages if you have enough reason to make it so. This is especially true if you are already in a managerial or executive level position and you have countless experience and competencies learned along the way.
So what are good resume tips to maintain the appropriate number of pages?
1. As mentioned above, one of the good resume tips to follow is to properly word your sentences. Keep it short while making sure it conveys the correct message across and goes straight to the point. Avoid flowery words. You can use that creativity somewhere else.
2. Another of the resume tips that will do your application justice is to stick to relevant and pertinent information. Avoid putting in details that are not important in assessing your suitability to a particular position. These include hobbies and interests that do not help in the satisfactory performance of a job. Some resume tips you have read might encourage you to put a section for hobbies and interests. But it is important to note that employers are more interested if you can perform your tasks satisfactorily and your hobbies and interest normally does not address that but only keeps your resume longer.
3. Longer is not generally better. If you are new to the job market or are changing careers and do not have enough experience to fill in two pages, then keep it at one page. Provide only information that could help you land the role. Do not stuff your resume with irrelevant details just to make it to two pages in length. One of the good resume tips is to keep it short but relevant.
4. One of the resume tips commonly mentioned is to list a maximum of five previous positions that you have held in the course of your employment. These resume tips are advised because most employers would generally prefer someone with the most recent experience in the job position being offered. If you are an employer, it would make perfect sense to use these resume tips on listing employment history. One who has just recently been exposed to the tasks required of a role would be more likely to perform better than someone who had experience with it five years ago. For all we know, he might have forgotten some of the small details in performing the task.
5. You need to properly format your submitted resume. This is one of the good resume tips that you should not ignore. Employers are people and people are normally visual beings. We often prefer something that is pleasing to the eyes. One of the good resume tips to control the length of your resume is to use the appropriate text size and fonts. Not too small to warrant the use of a magnifying glass and not too big either like it is shouting to the employer. Another of the good resume tips is to make good use of proper margins. Leave enough white space on the top, bottom, right and left side of the page. These resume tips will ensure that your submitted job application is easier to read, not too crowded and looks presentable.
6. If you cannot help but make a resume that is beyond the normal two pages in length, make sure that is well warranted for. Resume tips on ideal length are meant to increase your chances of being hired. If you do stray from these common resume tips and make your application longer, it must be justifiable. As mentioned in the third paragraph, not going with these resume tips on a two-page length is justified for professionals who are holding managerial and executive level positions. They generally have extensive professional work experiences and have years of employment history to speak of. Fitting all that in two pages is hard enough without omitting some key competencies. However, one of the resume tips to keep in mind is to list only relevant information with the most important ones probably in the first page where it is easily noticed.
These are some of the good resume tips to ensure that your job application papers are not too lengthy and discourage employers from reading it. Follow these resume tips on appropriate length and number of pages. Increase your chances of landing the job with these resume tips.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
How to Write a Resume If You Have No Experience
How to Write a Resume If You are a Fresh Graduate or are Changing Careers
A resume basically summarizes a person's professional experiences, educational attainments, skills and qualifications that are suited for a particular role. Employers rely heavily on a resume in assessing a person's suitability to a certain position and uses a resume in deciding whether to invest some time interviewing a particular applicant to know more about his qualifications and what he can impart to the role and the company. As such, it is very important that you need to learn how to write a resume that can attract the interest of the employer and motivate him to call for an interview.
Knowing how to write a resume effectively, however, is not a skill that is easily perfected and needs some dedication and time. Knowing how to write a resume that can lead to a job offer becomes even more daunting when you are fresh out of school or have recently decided to change careers. Often, you won't have the necessary professional experience to sell to employers as you are new to the job market or your acquired skills are different from that of your new chosen career.
But don't get discouraged. There is a technique on how to write a resume that can guarantee results even if you have little or no professional experience.
Graduating from university is no easy task. You have to cope with a lot of school projects, thesis, examinations and a lot of other stuff that students are bombarded with. Then when you go out looking for your first job, it does not become any easier. You still need to learn how to write a resume when you obviously don't have any employment experience to start out with.
Rather than wondering what on earth to put as work experience, focus on the skills and competencies that you acquired and the education that you attained. This is how to write a resume if you are a fresh graduate. Work out an impressive resume objective that embodies your competencies and how you can align it with the performance of your chosen role.
Once you are through deliberating on a how to write a resume objective that focuses on your career aspirations and what you can offer to a particular role, follow it up by listing down your educational background. Don't be too modest. If you received certain awards for excellency and other notable honors then mention it. This is how to write a resume that sells. If you attended some workshops or seminars that are highly related to the role that you are applying, then by all means, don't forget to mention it too. Knowing how to write a resume is knowing how to sell. Put your best foot forward.
When it comes to listing work experiences, use the functional resume layout. So rather than writing specific positions held, you use competencies and skills as headings. You may have performed some summer jobs that required you to deal with customers on a daily basis. You can choose to list this as a heading of "Customer Relations" then begin to detail what experiences you have that support this. Don't limit yourself. Think of volunteer works you performed, school projects you managed, school clubs you attended and community activities you got involved with. There may be other activities that honed your skill. Deliberate on it. Write it down if it supports your resume objective and relates to the role. Learning how to write a resume involves some brainstorming.
For somebody who is planning to change careers that is not entirely related to his previous experiences, going about on how to write a resume that satisfies that new role also needs some deliberation. Listing your employment history may not be a wise idea as the employer can easily spot that your experiences are not relevant to the role. Like new graduates, you need to learn how to write a resume that focuses more on your skills and competencies that you can transition to this new industry or role.
Start out with a career-defining resume objective. You may need to include a professional profile that seeks to address why you decided to pursue another career path. Use a functional resume layout and write qualifications that are applicable to a wide variety of roles. This could include leadership skills and people management. Then proceed to detail how you displayed these competencies in your previous roles. Think of community activities and volunteering works that you got involved with. Skills you learned from these involvements could be applicable to the new role you are seeking. This is how to write a resume if you are changing careers.
While knowing how to write a resume that could help you get that dream role is no easy task especially if you don't have any suitable work experience, don't be discouraged. Follow the tips above. Think positive. Analyze your skills. You may have more to offer. If you do this, knowing how to write a resume won't be that difficult after all.
Copyright How To Write A Resume, April 2008
A resume basically summarizes a person's professional experiences, educational attainments, skills and qualifications that are suited for a particular role. Employers rely heavily on a resume in assessing a person's suitability to a certain position and uses a resume in deciding whether to invest some time interviewing a particular applicant to know more about his qualifications and what he can impart to the role and the company. As such, it is very important that you need to learn how to write a resume that can attract the interest of the employer and motivate him to call for an interview.
Knowing how to write a resume effectively, however, is not a skill that is easily perfected and needs some dedication and time. Knowing how to write a resume that can lead to a job offer becomes even more daunting when you are fresh out of school or have recently decided to change careers. Often, you won't have the necessary professional experience to sell to employers as you are new to the job market or your acquired skills are different from that of your new chosen career.
But don't get discouraged. There is a technique on how to write a resume that can guarantee results even if you have little or no professional experience.
Graduating from university is no easy task. You have to cope with a lot of school projects, thesis, examinations and a lot of other stuff that students are bombarded with. Then when you go out looking for your first job, it does not become any easier. You still need to learn how to write a resume when you obviously don't have any employment experience to start out with.
Rather than wondering what on earth to put as work experience, focus on the skills and competencies that you acquired and the education that you attained. This is how to write a resume if you are a fresh graduate. Work out an impressive resume objective that embodies your competencies and how you can align it with the performance of your chosen role.
Once you are through deliberating on a how to write a resume objective that focuses on your career aspirations and what you can offer to a particular role, follow it up by listing down your educational background. Don't be too modest. If you received certain awards for excellency and other notable honors then mention it. This is how to write a resume that sells. If you attended some workshops or seminars that are highly related to the role that you are applying, then by all means, don't forget to mention it too. Knowing how to write a resume is knowing how to sell. Put your best foot forward.
When it comes to listing work experiences, use the functional resume layout. So rather than writing specific positions held, you use competencies and skills as headings. You may have performed some summer jobs that required you to deal with customers on a daily basis. You can choose to list this as a heading of "Customer Relations" then begin to detail what experiences you have that support this. Don't limit yourself. Think of volunteer works you performed, school projects you managed, school clubs you attended and community activities you got involved with. There may be other activities that honed your skill. Deliberate on it. Write it down if it supports your resume objective and relates to the role. Learning how to write a resume involves some brainstorming.
For somebody who is planning to change careers that is not entirely related to his previous experiences, going about on how to write a resume that satisfies that new role also needs some deliberation. Listing your employment history may not be a wise idea as the employer can easily spot that your experiences are not relevant to the role. Like new graduates, you need to learn how to write a resume that focuses more on your skills and competencies that you can transition to this new industry or role.
Start out with a career-defining resume objective. You may need to include a professional profile that seeks to address why you decided to pursue another career path. Use a functional resume layout and write qualifications that are applicable to a wide variety of roles. This could include leadership skills and people management. Then proceed to detail how you displayed these competencies in your previous roles. Think of community activities and volunteering works that you got involved with. Skills you learned from these involvements could be applicable to the new role you are seeking. This is how to write a resume if you are changing careers.
While knowing how to write a resume that could help you get that dream role is no easy task especially if you don't have any suitable work experience, don't be discouraged. Follow the tips above. Think positive. Analyze your skills. You may have more to offer. If you do this, knowing how to write a resume won't be that difficult after all.
Copyright How To Write A Resume, April 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Chronological vs Functional Resume Layout
Deciding Between a Chronological and Functional Resume Layout
You have just graduated from college and are keen to enter the job market and show everyone what you have learned. You have just found a nice and decent-paying job from one of the classified ads that you have been browsing and are very eager to apply. But how do you go on writing your resume to send to this employer? You barely have all the professional experience to put in your resume.
In another circumstance, someone has had enough of his current career and wants to try his hand on another field. He searches job availabilities via the internet and found a job and career path that he likes to pursue. How does he go on setting up his resume to cater to this employer's requirement when his professional expertise is that from a different field?
A resume is something that you have to submit to an employer every time you apply for a certain position in their company. Your resume gives them an insight of who you are in terms of your skills, competencies, educational background and employment experiences. Briefly put, your resume is a summary of your experiences that are relevant to the role and the skills you acquired along the way. Your resume is your sales letter and the decision to interview you for a possible job offer depends on it.
A properly written resume normally comes in two different resume layouts or maybe a combination of both. These are a chronological resume layout or a functional resume layout. While each resume layout differs in the way information is being relayed to the employer and the way it emphasizes certain aspects of your experience, both have its distinct advantage if used properly and in the right context.
Deciding which resume layout suits your present circumstance and the way you want to present yourself to the employer is not a very difficult decision to make. Once you learn how each resume layout is structured, the task becomes easier. Let us then talk about the structure and advantages of using the two types of resume layout.
Chronological Resume Layout
If you look it up in the dictionary, chronological is described as that which is arranged according to the order of time. It is something that presents information based on a timeline and an orderly sequence of events. By the same token, we can say that a chronological resume layout is where your employment experiences and educational background are sequentially arranged in the order they were attained. In a basic chronological resume layout, this is normally done by listing out the most recent experiences first, your current job for instance. The same is true with listing your educational background. You start out with your latest educational attainment then follow it up with the one preceding that as long as it is suited to role that you are seeking. This is the reason why a chronological resume layout is often referred to as reverse chronological because it lists information in reverse.
A lot of employers are familiar with a chronological resume layout and would often prefer this type as they can immediately spot what your qualifications are depending on the past employment experiences and education you have. Presenting a prospective employer with the most recent experience you have can significantly help them in deciding whether you are suited to the position and will have the most recent knowledge in performing the duties and tasks required of the position. Whether we like it or not, employers often prefer somebody who had performed a certain role requirement just recently than someone who performed it three years down the track. They will most certainly assume that a recent performer will be more able and be better adapted to the demands of the position. This is one distinct advantage of a chronological resume layout.
In structuring this type of resume layout, proceed to write your most recent experience first and it could be the current job that you are holding now. Follow this up with another two to four employment histories if you have as much. Just remember to list the most recent first as this type of resume layout works best if done this way. You many need to put the months and years that you were doing that role to provide a distinct timeline. You don't have to put the exact date. If you have gaps in your employment history, especially one that may be a year or more long, it can easily be spotted if you use this type of resume layout. So be sure to have a very good explanation prepared when given a chance for an interview. You can also include this in your resume cover letter.
So when is it good to use a chronological resume layout? This type of resume layout is better suited and will work perfectly well for someone with a lot of relevant professional experience to speak of, someone who has been in paid employment. This is not suited for someone who just recently graduated and new to the job market.
Functional Resume Layout
For someone who had just finished completing his college degree, a functional resume layout will be better suited. If you are fresh out of school, you normally won't have all the necessary professional experiences that are a match to the role being offered. Even when you have been doing part time jobs or community works, chances are these involvements may not directly relate to the position that you want to apply to. So how do you go on with a resume layout that suits this need?
A functional resume layout is quite different from the chronological resume layout in that it emphasizes your skills and qualifications rather than your job history. As such, this type of resume layout will work perfectly for a fresh graduate. Instead of writing down all your past employment experiences (which you obviously won't have), you will be required to write down specific qualifications and competencies that are required of the role available. A good example would be if a prospective employer requires somebody with experience in customer relations. Instead of listing the positions you held, you can use this subheading in a functional resume layout and then proceed to write experiences that support your claim of this competency. Think of everything that you have been involved with when structuring a functional resume layout and address the key skills and qualifications that the employer requires. You might be involved in school projects and community activities that show your ability to manage people, flaunt it. You may use a subheading of "People Management" and elaborate on this by enumerating the projects you have been involved with where you used this skill.
Not only is a functional resume layout excellent for fresh graduates, it is also very applicable to those who are wishing for a career change and their chosen field is entirely different from the one they are currently in. They won't obviously have the relevant experience to speak but they most certainly will have some qualifications and skills that they could bring to the new role. A good example again would be on people management and customer relations. There would be other qualifications that you can bring to another industry, you just have to spend time analyzing it. One easy way to do this is to look at the advertised position and see what skills they require then focus on it. A functional resume layout will come in handy.
In closing, the decision to use which type of resume layout will still depend on you. However, knowing how each resume layout is structured and how each resume layout brings out its strengths can help make a more informed decision - something which is very important if you want to succeed in your job searching. In some instances, you might combine the advantages of both resume layout and make a resume that is a combination of the two types.
You have just graduated from college and are keen to enter the job market and show everyone what you have learned. You have just found a nice and decent-paying job from one of the classified ads that you have been browsing and are very eager to apply. But how do you go on writing your resume to send to this employer? You barely have all the professional experience to put in your resume.
In another circumstance, someone has had enough of his current career and wants to try his hand on another field. He searches job availabilities via the internet and found a job and career path that he likes to pursue. How does he go on setting up his resume to cater to this employer's requirement when his professional expertise is that from a different field?
A resume is something that you have to submit to an employer every time you apply for a certain position in their company. Your resume gives them an insight of who you are in terms of your skills, competencies, educational background and employment experiences. Briefly put, your resume is a summary of your experiences that are relevant to the role and the skills you acquired along the way. Your resume is your sales letter and the decision to interview you for a possible job offer depends on it.
A properly written resume normally comes in two different resume layouts or maybe a combination of both. These are a chronological resume layout or a functional resume layout. While each resume layout differs in the way information is being relayed to the employer and the way it emphasizes certain aspects of your experience, both have its distinct advantage if used properly and in the right context.
Deciding which resume layout suits your present circumstance and the way you want to present yourself to the employer is not a very difficult decision to make. Once you learn how each resume layout is structured, the task becomes easier. Let us then talk about the structure and advantages of using the two types of resume layout.
Chronological Resume Layout
If you look it up in the dictionary, chronological is described as that which is arranged according to the order of time. It is something that presents information based on a timeline and an orderly sequence of events. By the same token, we can say that a chronological resume layout is where your employment experiences and educational background are sequentially arranged in the order they were attained. In a basic chronological resume layout, this is normally done by listing out the most recent experiences first, your current job for instance. The same is true with listing your educational background. You start out with your latest educational attainment then follow it up with the one preceding that as long as it is suited to role that you are seeking. This is the reason why a chronological resume layout is often referred to as reverse chronological because it lists information in reverse.
A lot of employers are familiar with a chronological resume layout and would often prefer this type as they can immediately spot what your qualifications are depending on the past employment experiences and education you have. Presenting a prospective employer with the most recent experience you have can significantly help them in deciding whether you are suited to the position and will have the most recent knowledge in performing the duties and tasks required of the position. Whether we like it or not, employers often prefer somebody who had performed a certain role requirement just recently than someone who performed it three years down the track. They will most certainly assume that a recent performer will be more able and be better adapted to the demands of the position. This is one distinct advantage of a chronological resume layout.
In structuring this type of resume layout, proceed to write your most recent experience first and it could be the current job that you are holding now. Follow this up with another two to four employment histories if you have as much. Just remember to list the most recent first as this type of resume layout works best if done this way. You many need to put the months and years that you were doing that role to provide a distinct timeline. You don't have to put the exact date. If you have gaps in your employment history, especially one that may be a year or more long, it can easily be spotted if you use this type of resume layout. So be sure to have a very good explanation prepared when given a chance for an interview. You can also include this in your resume cover letter.
So when is it good to use a chronological resume layout? This type of resume layout is better suited and will work perfectly well for someone with a lot of relevant professional experience to speak of, someone who has been in paid employment. This is not suited for someone who just recently graduated and new to the job market.
Functional Resume Layout
For someone who had just finished completing his college degree, a functional resume layout will be better suited. If you are fresh out of school, you normally won't have all the necessary professional experiences that are a match to the role being offered. Even when you have been doing part time jobs or community works, chances are these involvements may not directly relate to the position that you want to apply to. So how do you go on with a resume layout that suits this need?
A functional resume layout is quite different from the chronological resume layout in that it emphasizes your skills and qualifications rather than your job history. As such, this type of resume layout will work perfectly for a fresh graduate. Instead of writing down all your past employment experiences (which you obviously won't have), you will be required to write down specific qualifications and competencies that are required of the role available. A good example would be if a prospective employer requires somebody with experience in customer relations. Instead of listing the positions you held, you can use this subheading in a functional resume layout and then proceed to write experiences that support your claim of this competency. Think of everything that you have been involved with when structuring a functional resume layout and address the key skills and qualifications that the employer requires. You might be involved in school projects and community activities that show your ability to manage people, flaunt it. You may use a subheading of "People Management" and elaborate on this by enumerating the projects you have been involved with where you used this skill.
Not only is a functional resume layout excellent for fresh graduates, it is also very applicable to those who are wishing for a career change and their chosen field is entirely different from the one they are currently in. They won't obviously have the relevant experience to speak but they most certainly will have some qualifications and skills that they could bring to the new role. A good example again would be on people management and customer relations. There would be other qualifications that you can bring to another industry, you just have to spend time analyzing it. One easy way to do this is to look at the advertised position and see what skills they require then focus on it. A functional resume layout will come in handy.
In closing, the decision to use which type of resume layout will still depend on you. However, knowing how each resume layout is structured and how each resume layout brings out its strengths can help make a more informed decision - something which is very important if you want to succeed in your job searching. In some instances, you might combine the advantages of both resume layout and make a resume that is a combination of the two types.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Resume Cover Letter Blunders
A good cover letter is a requirement for every resume and job application that you hand out. A few people might be against this idea as they feel that their submitted resume is already a comprehensive detail of all their employment history, educational background and skills. So why do they have to send a resume cover letter apart from the resume they already submitted?
An effective resume cover letter is not one that repeats all the information already stated in a resume. A resume cover letter is your opening introduction to the employer and will give him a brief insight on the type of roles you will likely perform best. Besides, there are a few items that you can explain more and give more emphasis on the resume cover letter. Including an excellent resume cover letter to complement your resume can actually boost your chances of being hired.
Writing a good resume cover letter, however, is easier said than done. Most people will simply go on writing a resume cover letter for the main sake of just having one and are oblivious to the mistakes they are making. A resume cover letter, just like the resume, must create a positive impact on the prospective employer and allow him to see that you are right person for the role. A resume cover letter with obvious errors and mistakes will most likely cost you the interview and will be a hindrance to landing that role you want. You need to keep an eye on some of the most common resume cover letter blunders that most job seekers, in their haste to submit an application, tend to overlook.
Common Resume Cover Letter Blunders
1. One of the most obvious and generally the biggest turn-off is misspelling the name of the company and the name of the person you are handing your resume cover letter to. Not too many like to have their name misspelled, even companies. It doesn't signify your interest and will likely let them to believe that you give no attention to detail. So what will they think of the way you handle a job? They will most likely assume that you will bring in the same inattentiveness and sloppiness when performing the role. Take the time to properly research details when making the resume cover letter. Know who the person who you are sending it too. You can easily find this out from the classified ad posted as they usually include details of the contact person. You can also find out by checking the company yourself if you live close to the area. Always put in the correct contact person and company in your resume cover letter if you want to get the role.
2. Another blunder most job searchers tend to emphasize in their resume cover letter is putting more focus on what they can get out from the role rather than what they can offer to the company in terms of the skills and competencies they bring. Keep in mind, that employers will be more interested in what you have than what they can give although they also use this (what they can give) to attract the best candidates. A good resume cover letter must focus on key competencies and skills that will enforce your suitability to the role. These skills must offer something of value to the company. Companies will likely want something of value in relation to the compensation they are offering. Stress these valuable assets you have in the resume cover letter.
3. As much as possible, avoid repeating in your resume cover letter all the information that is already being included in your resume. A resume cover letter is inherently different from your resume and serves a different purpose. The resume cover letter is meant to provide the employer with an introduction on how you found out about the job and why they should consider hiring you for the particular role being offered. It must capture an employer's interest enough for him to consider you for an interview to learn more about what you can bring to the role. Blabbing about what is already in your resume won't achieve that. Rather, just pick-up the competencies that will bear a greater impact on the advertised position. You can usually find this out in the classified ad posted since recruiters always put what skills they require of a role. Focus on these in your resume cover letter. The other details can be left out for the resume.
4. Avoid starting with "I" for all the sentences and paragraphs you construct in your resume cover letter. If you try to examine most of the posted job advertisements, you certainly will notice that a key requirement for most positions is having excellent communication skills. Structuring all your sentences in your resume cover letter to start with "I" does not show a good command of the English language and will reflect poorly on your communication skills. Even without interviewing you and just basing on your resume cover letter, the employer will have the impression that you are not very good in communicating your thoughts and ideas and will likely pass you for the role. So communicate professionally in your resume cover letter.
5. If you have read samples of resume cover letters, you might notice that a common closing statement is to ask the employer to call at his most convenient time. While it is good that you are actually being considerate of the employer's busy schedule, you are not putting yourself at a more positive light. Try to be more assertive in your resume cover letter and show genuine interest by telling the employer that you will call them to inquire about your application and to see where things are. Simply telling them in your resume cover letter that you will call is not enough - you have to contact them. It is also wise that you will tell them in your resume cover letter what means of contact you will use. You can either contact them by email or by phone. This is not easy because it is not what most job searchers are used to but if you do it right and in a proper and professional way, you can impress the employer with your assertiveness and take-charge attitude. This could be a big plus and could just help you in landing that big role.
There are other important factors that employers use to decide whether you are a good fit for the role they are requiring. But having a good resume cover letter free from all these common blunders and mistakes is a first step in the right direction. Ensuring that your resume cover letter avoid these blunders will impress the employer with your attentiveness to detail, having relevant competencies, good communication skills and your ability to take charge of your career. This is exactly what you want to achieve with your resume cover letter.
An effective resume cover letter is not one that repeats all the information already stated in a resume. A resume cover letter is your opening introduction to the employer and will give him a brief insight on the type of roles you will likely perform best. Besides, there are a few items that you can explain more and give more emphasis on the resume cover letter. Including an excellent resume cover letter to complement your resume can actually boost your chances of being hired.
Writing a good resume cover letter, however, is easier said than done. Most people will simply go on writing a resume cover letter for the main sake of just having one and are oblivious to the mistakes they are making. A resume cover letter, just like the resume, must create a positive impact on the prospective employer and allow him to see that you are right person for the role. A resume cover letter with obvious errors and mistakes will most likely cost you the interview and will be a hindrance to landing that role you want. You need to keep an eye on some of the most common resume cover letter blunders that most job seekers, in their haste to submit an application, tend to overlook.
Common Resume Cover Letter Blunders
1. One of the most obvious and generally the biggest turn-off is misspelling the name of the company and the name of the person you are handing your resume cover letter to. Not too many like to have their name misspelled, even companies. It doesn't signify your interest and will likely let them to believe that you give no attention to detail. So what will they think of the way you handle a job? They will most likely assume that you will bring in the same inattentiveness and sloppiness when performing the role. Take the time to properly research details when making the resume cover letter. Know who the person who you are sending it too. You can easily find this out from the classified ad posted as they usually include details of the contact person. You can also find out by checking the company yourself if you live close to the area. Always put in the correct contact person and company in your resume cover letter if you want to get the role.
2. Another blunder most job searchers tend to emphasize in their resume cover letter is putting more focus on what they can get out from the role rather than what they can offer to the company in terms of the skills and competencies they bring. Keep in mind, that employers will be more interested in what you have than what they can give although they also use this (what they can give) to attract the best candidates. A good resume cover letter must focus on key competencies and skills that will enforce your suitability to the role. These skills must offer something of value to the company. Companies will likely want something of value in relation to the compensation they are offering. Stress these valuable assets you have in the resume cover letter.
3. As much as possible, avoid repeating in your resume cover letter all the information that is already being included in your resume. A resume cover letter is inherently different from your resume and serves a different purpose. The resume cover letter is meant to provide the employer with an introduction on how you found out about the job and why they should consider hiring you for the particular role being offered. It must capture an employer's interest enough for him to consider you for an interview to learn more about what you can bring to the role. Blabbing about what is already in your resume won't achieve that. Rather, just pick-up the competencies that will bear a greater impact on the advertised position. You can usually find this out in the classified ad posted since recruiters always put what skills they require of a role. Focus on these in your resume cover letter. The other details can be left out for the resume.
4. Avoid starting with "I" for all the sentences and paragraphs you construct in your resume cover letter. If you try to examine most of the posted job advertisements, you certainly will notice that a key requirement for most positions is having excellent communication skills. Structuring all your sentences in your resume cover letter to start with "I" does not show a good command of the English language and will reflect poorly on your communication skills. Even without interviewing you and just basing on your resume cover letter, the employer will have the impression that you are not very good in communicating your thoughts and ideas and will likely pass you for the role. So communicate professionally in your resume cover letter.
5. If you have read samples of resume cover letters, you might notice that a common closing statement is to ask the employer to call at his most convenient time. While it is good that you are actually being considerate of the employer's busy schedule, you are not putting yourself at a more positive light. Try to be more assertive in your resume cover letter and show genuine interest by telling the employer that you will call them to inquire about your application and to see where things are. Simply telling them in your resume cover letter that you will call is not enough - you have to contact them. It is also wise that you will tell them in your resume cover letter what means of contact you will use. You can either contact them by email or by phone. This is not easy because it is not what most job searchers are used to but if you do it right and in a proper and professional way, you can impress the employer with your assertiveness and take-charge attitude. This could be a big plus and could just help you in landing that big role.
There are other important factors that employers use to decide whether you are a good fit for the role they are requiring. But having a good resume cover letter free from all these common blunders and mistakes is a first step in the right direction. Ensuring that your resume cover letter avoid these blunders will impress the employer with your attentiveness to detail, having relevant competencies, good communication skills and your ability to take charge of your career. This is exactly what you want to achieve with your resume cover letter.
Friday, April 4, 2008
How to Write a Resume by Email
Now that we are in the age of computers and high-speed internet, we need to learn how to write a resume that is sent by email. Whether we like it or not, prospective employers are doing away with the traditional means of how to write a resume. Most, if not all, are no longer going through the traditional route of receiving resumes from potential candidates by mail or fax.
Let's face it. Companies too are going with the trend and want to make their recruitment process a whole lot faster and efficient. They are now relying more and more on the use of sophisticated programs and software to accept resumes and scan them for potential matches to an advertised available position. Many are also accepting resumes and applications through email. And while this makes it easier for you as a job seeker, it is essential that you know how to write a resume that will look presentable in both your sent email and the printed format.
These changes in how to write a resume, while making it a whole lot quicker, has also posed a challenge to job seekers. True, we no longer have to slave away in our old typewriter, pounding out letter for letter of our resume making sure not to make any mistakes because it is hard to erase. The computer has made the tedious task of how to write a resume easier. Making erasures is as easy as using the delete button. Then, we no longer have to walk all the way to the post office to drop our written resumes in the mail box. In fact, we no longer have to lift our butt of the chair. Just press the send button and presto, your resume is sent right to the employer's email or web site. Resume writing has never been this quick.
But as previously pointed out, your emailed resume is usually printed out especially when you are called for an interview to discuss more of your skills and competencies. It is important that both the email and print-out look professional to generate any interest in the employer. As such, you need to know how to write a resume that achieves this goal. Learning how to write a resume by email should also not be taken for granted as your job hunting success may depend on it. Below are some useful tips on how to write a resume when your are planning to send it by electronic means - by email.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 1
It is important that you have a text file of your emailed resume. This type of file usually uses the .txt extension. While it is necessary that you need to highlight some of the more important aspects of your resume, you need to have a simple text file of the same resume for employers to use when scanning it through their software. These scans are used in looking for certain keywords that employers use to look for matching candidates to an offered position. In making the text file, format your resume properly.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 2
Always follow the instructions laid out by the employer in sending out your application. If they require you to include your resume in the email body, do so. Do not include it as an attachment more so as a PDF attachment. It is unusual for a resume to be sent this way and it may result in your resume being rejected. To include it in the email body, all you need to do is copy and paste the text file that you saved in your email. There is generally no need to apply bolding or other formatting styles when sending your resume this way as it may get messed up when the employer's email program cannot recognize it. Simple is always better.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 3
Before sending your resume by email to the prospective employer, you may want to try sending it to a few of your friends to verify that it is received properly and in the correct format regardless on the type of software being used. By doing this initial test, you may weed out formatting problems that could cause your resume to be received not as you intended it to be.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 4
Even when the resume is included in the body of the email, you may still need to write a cover letter first to highlight key competencies and skills that you have that will increase your chances of being hired. There are a lot of useful guides on how to write a resume cover letter and some are covered in our previous articles. Since the address is already included in the cover letter, you may no longer need to write this when starting out your resume. You may simply start with your resume objective.
These are some of the important points on how to write a resume that is sent by email. While there are other means of sending out your application, knowing how to write a resume thru email will give you a better advantage.
Let's face it. Companies too are going with the trend and want to make their recruitment process a whole lot faster and efficient. They are now relying more and more on the use of sophisticated programs and software to accept resumes and scan them for potential matches to an advertised available position. Many are also accepting resumes and applications through email. And while this makes it easier for you as a job seeker, it is essential that you know how to write a resume that will look presentable in both your sent email and the printed format.
These changes in how to write a resume, while making it a whole lot quicker, has also posed a challenge to job seekers. True, we no longer have to slave away in our old typewriter, pounding out letter for letter of our resume making sure not to make any mistakes because it is hard to erase. The computer has made the tedious task of how to write a resume easier. Making erasures is as easy as using the delete button. Then, we no longer have to walk all the way to the post office to drop our written resumes in the mail box. In fact, we no longer have to lift our butt of the chair. Just press the send button and presto, your resume is sent right to the employer's email or web site. Resume writing has never been this quick.
But as previously pointed out, your emailed resume is usually printed out especially when you are called for an interview to discuss more of your skills and competencies. It is important that both the email and print-out look professional to generate any interest in the employer. As such, you need to know how to write a resume that achieves this goal. Learning how to write a resume by email should also not be taken for granted as your job hunting success may depend on it. Below are some useful tips on how to write a resume when your are planning to send it by electronic means - by email.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 1
It is important that you have a text file of your emailed resume. This type of file usually uses the .txt extension. While it is necessary that you need to highlight some of the more important aspects of your resume, you need to have a simple text file of the same resume for employers to use when scanning it through their software. These scans are used in looking for certain keywords that employers use to look for matching candidates to an offered position. In making the text file, format your resume properly.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 2
Always follow the instructions laid out by the employer in sending out your application. If they require you to include your resume in the email body, do so. Do not include it as an attachment more so as a PDF attachment. It is unusual for a resume to be sent this way and it may result in your resume being rejected. To include it in the email body, all you need to do is copy and paste the text file that you saved in your email. There is generally no need to apply bolding or other formatting styles when sending your resume this way as it may get messed up when the employer's email program cannot recognize it. Simple is always better.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 3
Before sending your resume by email to the prospective employer, you may want to try sending it to a few of your friends to verify that it is received properly and in the correct format regardless on the type of software being used. By doing this initial test, you may weed out formatting problems that could cause your resume to be received not as you intended it to be.
How to Write a Resume by Email Tip No. 4
Even when the resume is included in the body of the email, you may still need to write a cover letter first to highlight key competencies and skills that you have that will increase your chances of being hired. There are a lot of useful guides on how to write a resume cover letter and some are covered in our previous articles. Since the address is already included in the cover letter, you may no longer need to write this when starting out your resume. You may simply start with your resume objective.
These are some of the important points on how to write a resume that is sent by email. While there are other means of sending out your application, knowing how to write a resume thru email will give you a better advantage.
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