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Cover Letter, Career Advice and How To Write A Resume

Cover Letter, Career Advice and How To Write A Resume

New information regarding how and what to emphasize in your employment cover letter has been added to orglearn and new resume examples and information has also been added to the site. There is now additional career advice on management in the form of a series of short lessons/articles. The user interface has been further resourced with more tips on how to write a resume and useability has been expanded in that you can now join the resume form site and submit questions or make comments.

 

Ric-orglearn

Some Resume Screeners Comments on What They Look For

A) In screening the resume the points which I ‘take care of’ particularly would be:

1) Education qualification required for the job

2)Relevant experience [I  assume in line with ad specs]

3) Job stability – for me which is very important criteria

4) Location [particularly if there is no relocation package offered]

B) While screening resume, I look for three things – education, experience and age. In my view if these three parameters match with the requirment, you have a relevant candidate and you may go ahead and read the rest of resume for more details.

C) 1. The professional structure of the resume for the same reason that the candidate is not physically present and as such a resume is a proxy for him. The better the presentation the easier it is for me to have a glimpse into the candidate’s professionalism.

2. Secondly I would seek for an alignment between the job profile, the special and general skill set that is required for the best performance of the job offered.

3. The personal quallities of the candidate ie his enthusiasm and willing to go extra mile. Therein the “value-clarification” on the part of the candidate is something that will attract my attention. The more we are value-driven to do something the more we achieve in life.

And a current (1st qtr 09) concern…

D] “Unfortunately, the primary force that rules many employment decisions is the *fear of making a hiring mistake *.  In these tough economic times, that’s why so few in the hiring arena take a chance on somebody.  They believe if they don’t get everything right about a hire, then it’ll be their jobs on the line come next layoff.”

Ric-orglearn for a free blank resume, sample resume, resume template, resume form to fill in online with positive statement examples!

Resume Tip Fifteen – Avoid Hirer’s “Peeves”

Can I suggest you read “Top 30 Executive Resume Pet Peeves of Hiring Decision-Makers” – by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. before you use the free blank resume form at orglearn!

Some of the peeves are:

1. Resume has spelling errors, typos and grammatical flaws.

2. Resume is too long.

3. Resume is too wordy, contains too much information.

4. Resume is written in third-person.

5. Resume does not list phone number, only an e-mail address, or has inappropriate e-mail address.

6. Resume contains the personal pronoun “I.”

and more, well worth a read…

Link: http://www.quintcareers.com/executive_resume_pet-peeves.html

Remember you can go here for the free resume form

When times are tough your resume must be perfect! Ric

Resume Tip Fourteen – Have Someone Review Your Resume

Excerpt from a Questcareer article:

Ann Hackett
- “15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes”

“14.Have someone else review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume, and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions. Their questions can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your resume. Revise your resume to include these items. Their questions can also point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your resume based on this input.”

Great article and worth a read: http://www.questcareer.com/tips.htm

Remember we are often blind to our own errors of judgment or how we are actually are ‘seen by others’, so a frank and honest review of what we have written my hurt… however it may help… a lot!

Blank Resume Form: you can fill in blank sections online to build an interview grabbing resume!

Resume Tip Twelve – Cover Letter ‘Rules’ Part “B”

When responding to an employer’s advertisement refer specifically to the qualifications they are looking for and highlight the two ‘most important’ attributes you have to satisfy their requirements. (The resume should cover the rest)

Always focus on what the employer wants rather than what you desire. (Yes I know its basic however resumes I read still emphasize what the applicant wants rather than what a potential employer needs).

Research the organization you are applying to and make a statement that supports what you have read… perhaps quote their vision or some article that talks about their goals and then explain what you have to give that will help them.

Refer the reader back to your resume e.g. ‘You will see from my resume that I have had extensive managerial experience’

Demonstrate how your competencies and qualifications are transferable and relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Sign all letters with “sincerely” not “best regards” or “yours truly/faithfully” or any other variation

Try the free blank resume at http://www.orglearn.org

Resume Tip Ten – Don’t Boast or be Self-Centred

As you can see from the links listed on this blog I have a website with a free blank resume template. Many individuals send me their resume, I store it so, as recently happened, when they lose it I can on request send it back to the distressed resume writer. 

To digress for a moment. The thing about selling and buying is that many (all) of us will seek a third party opinion before buying anything. Just stand in the women’s department of a major store and see how many people ask the sales assistant, a friend or even a passer by “what do you think does this suit me” and you will see what I mean. Yes, men do it as well! 

So back to your resume: 

Here are a few statements from the last few I have received: 

I am hard working and fast learning – unsubstantiated claim and boastful

I do the best that I can – poor attempt at a boast verging on an excuse for past failings

I am able to troubleshoot and repair – hmm almost a boast

I am driven to pursue my ambitions and goals through relentless effort and experience [with] companies that will help me achieve my dreams – no one would want employ this person, he/she give the impression they are just in it for themselves

I [Mary1] have great customer service skills – same comment as the first example above

In a previous post I suggested you write without using personal pronouns as by doing this you give the impression of a to avoid a resume that is full of boasts and/or self centred statements.

Lets take the last one and fix it for Mary

Sales results testify to (2)  great customer skills… see it sounds more credible already. Add a proof statement and wow…

or (3) Excellent customer skills are reflected in the customer survey sheets received.

Or…

Positive staff appraisals comment as to (4) great customer skills.

You tell me, if you where culling sales rep resumes, which Mary would you choose to call in for an interview?

Oh no… while writing this I just received another one that started with… “I am a well qualified individual”… urrgh

Try the free blank resume – fill in the blank sections and build your resume using the online form at www.orglearn.org

Resume Tip Eight – Sell Your Benefits

As in selling anything the ‘buyer’ is looking for the benefits you bring. To make a benefit statement you need to write down a full “FAB” statement to make sure you are actually listing the benefit you are offering. The best way to do this is to start with a (F) feature which turns into an (A) advantage that finally delivers a (B) benefit.

Example: Your Feature may be say, “Fred holds a full XYZ (whatever it is where you live) drivers license which means he can (Advantage) operate all vehicles in your fleet / production facility (giving the Benifit of) removing the need for additional/temporary drivers for a wide range of operations.

Another example could be: Mary has two degrees (F) which gives her (B) a solid level of knowledge in both discipline X and discipline Y which will assist (now the Benefit) in the overall integration of the organization’s functions and reduce the possibility of interdepartmental tensions.

These types of “FAB statements” help convince the potential employer that you have the competencies that it takes to be both successful in the new position and in your ongoing career with the company. Of course the benefits must relate to the desired ‘attributes’ or ‘skills’ listed in the ad you are responding to.

Practice your resume writing using the free blank resume template at www.orglearn.org

Resume Tip Seven – Be Concise

Limit the more detailed information regarding your work history to what is pertinent to the job you are applying for – short is sweet.

The most important information (from the potential employer’s point of view) must come very early on in your resume. 

blank resume at http://www.orglearn.org

Resume Tip Six – General Presentation

Use ‘formal’ language and short crisp well structured sentences – easy to read absorb.

Use subheadings – they help the overworked hiring manger find what he/she is looking for quickly.

Use simple and clear typefaces – I think “Arial” is great.

Do not use jargon or abbreviations, check the spelling at least three times…. and have someone check your grammar.

free blank resume at http://www.orglearn.org you can fill in the resume form online

Resume Tip Five – Numbers and Statistics

Use statistics to quantify your responsibilities, job tasks and achievements. Examples: “managed a department of twelve people”, “was responsible for a sales budget of eight million dollars” or achieved production growth of 88%. Numbers will create vivid images in the reader’s mind that will be more likely stick.

Free information on blank resumes at orglearn and the resume form itself.

Resume Tip Four – Use the ‘Right’ Words

A well written ‘generic’ resume is a great start however when applying for a job interview you must use the appropriate words and statements. So how how do you find out which words will get the attention of your reader. This is easy… just use as many words and statements, in your introduction, from their ad as you can. Example if they say they are looking for a ‘hard working team player that enjoys a personal challenge’ you use “team player”, “hardworking” and “likes a personal challenge” in your statements about yourself.

Practice writing your resume at orglearn using the free blank resumes by using the free blank resume form

Ric orglearn