Resumes and Cover Letters

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by Amin Huffington

Dreamfedjob - Turning unemployed into employed.

There are as many "best" résumés as there are people who are willing to advise you. So if you expect the following pages to produce the perfect résumé, you are likely to be disappointed. For résumés, there is no one size/shape that fits all. Each must fit the individual for whom it is tailored.

Perhaps, the easiest way to begin tailoring your résumé is to recognize what a résumé is not.

A résumé is NOT...a three-volume biography, an advertisement, or an artistic event.
Major employers consider an average of 245 résumés for every interview granted. At best, a résumé will get you past the initial screening...and into the interview. At worst, it will provide information that will screen you out.

TYPES OF RÉSUMÉS
Regardless of the type of résumé you choose, the presentation of your experience, skills, and abilities must support a specific job objective. If you have more than one job objective, you will probably need a résumé especially prepared for each.

You should be able to begin your résumé by:

• stating your job objective/goal clearly and concisely, and
• describing your experience, transferable and job content skills either in chronological or functional groupings.

When you've completed that portion of your résumé, the hardest part is over. The remainder consists of facts:

• name
• address
• phone number(s)
• noteworthy achievements/accomplishments
• education

Although there are many types of résumés, the most commonly used are the chronological, functional, and combination. Your first step is to decide which of the résumés types will best describe your skills and abilities.

TYPE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

CHRONOLOGICAL

Spells out your work history starting with the most recent employer. Specifies employer names and job titles. Describes duties for each job.

ADVANTAGES

• Emphasizes continuity and career growth. Is easy to follow. Preferred by most employers.

DISADVANTAGES  

• Fails to group abilities/skills.
• Points out any gaps in employment.
• Points out any lack of work experience.

FUNCTIONAL

Clusters experience under major skill areas rather than listing experience under each job. Points out major strengths and abilities.

Is organized to strongly support objective.

ADVANTAGES

• Hightlights strong points and accomplishments. Is flexible. Eliminates repetition of duties. Is useful for changing careers.

DISADVANTAGES

• Is often viewed as a way to hide gaps or lack of experience. Is more difficult to prepare.

COMBINATION

Combines elements of both the chronological and functional résumé. It begins with a brief objective, then lists specific skills relevant to the objective, followed by employment history.

ADVANTAGES

• Allows writer to avoid listing months and years worked at each job.

DISADVANTAGES

• Is often not as orderly as other résumés and may be harder to follow.

HELPFUL HINTS For Writing Your Résumé

• WRITE IT YOURSELF! - You will be better prepared for interviews.
• BE RELEVANT! - Everything must directly relate to your job objective.
• USE ACTION VERBS! - (See samples in this chapter)
• BE POSITIVE! - Emphasize your accomplishments.
• BE SPECIFIC! - Document your abilities.
• BE ACCURATE! - You will be expected to perform as described.
• BE BRIEF! - Use short sentences and action words. Use only one to two pages.
• MAKE IT ERROR-FREE! - Have someone check your spelling and grammar.
• MAKE IT LOOK GOOD! - Use fine grade paper and laser quality printing.

NOTE: Offering to furnish references is optional. References are people who have favorable opinions of you and who can attest to your work ethic, job content, transferable or self management skills. Remember to contact your references before you supply their names. References are normally not contacted by the employer until after the interview - just prior to the hiring decision.

AVOID RÉSUMÉ MISTAKES

• Don't have a résumé longer than two pages. (One is best.)
• Don't attach documents.(Diplomas, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.)
• Don't use odd sized paper. (Use standard 8 1/2 by 11.)
• Don't include personal irrelevancies.
• Don't use complete sentences. (Use action phrases.)
• Don't include pictures.
• Don't list education first. (unless a recent graduate with limited experience.)
• Don't forget accomplishments.

SCANNABLE RÉSUMÉS

Computer technology has rewritten the rules of the job search game to include a new type of résumé. This résumé is the scannable résumé. Just as its name suggests, it is read by résumé scanning software.
How does the scannable résumé differ from traditional résumés? Here are the basic differences:

No frills. Scannable résumés are plain and simple. Use limited boldface, no italic or script text. Limit use of vertical and horizontal lines, no underlining, no special pictures or graphics, and no highlighting or shading.

Use of keywords. Probably the most important difference is that nouns are used keywords instead of the action verbs that liven up so many résumés. Computers search résumés for key-words, not verbs, in an effort to identify which candidate has the background and experience that best fits with the job requirements.
 
Changes in standard résumé production. For the purpose of making the résumé more "scanner friendly," changes need to be made. Here are the most basic ones:

• Certain fonts are now better than others, including the Helvetica and Arial series.
• The use of industry jargon and abbreviations should now be played up instead of avoided.
• Résumés should not be folded or stapled.
• Telephone area codes should not be placed in brackets.

KEYWORDS FOR SCANNABLE RESUMES

Keywords are usually nouns. They are terms that define and describe the skills typically associated with a particular line of work. There are some examples of keywords taken directly from the classified ads:

 
ACCOUNTANT:

• Accounts Payable
• Estimating
• Medicare/Medicaid
• Accounts Receivable
• Excel
• Payroll
• Analysis
• Financial Statements
• Reports
• B.S. – Accounting
• Fixed Asset Accounting
• Spreadsheets
• Budgets
• Forecasts
• Statistical Reporting
• Collector
• GAAP
• Supervisor
• Compute
• General Ledger
• Time Keeping
• Controller
• Inventory
• Vendors
• Cost Accounting
• Invoicing
• Word
• CPA
• Lotus
• CYMA
• LTC Reimbursements

MECHANIC:

• Air Brakes
• Domestic Models
• Hydraulic Machinery
• Tools
• Alignments
• Electric Systems
• Manual Transmissions
• Trucks
• ASE Certificate
• Exhaust Systems
• On Board Computer
• Tune-ups
• Blue Prints
• Foreign Models
• Plastics
• Welding
• Brakes
• Gas Engines
• Power Tools
• Diesel Engines
• Heavy Equipment
• tate Inspections

NURSE:

• ACLS
• ICU
• OR
• Administration
• I-V Experience
• Pain Management
• Analyze
• LPN
• Prevention
• BCLS Certification
• LTC
• Psychiatry Experience
• Cardiovascular Care
• MSN
• Records
• Chemistry
• Nursery
• Rehabilitation
• Clinical
• Nursing Home
• RN
• CNA
• Nutrition
• Substance Abuse
• Diagnosis
• OB
• Surgical Experience
• Emergency Room
• Obstetrics
• Treatment & Plans

COVER LETTERS
Once you have created the perfect résumé (for you), the next challenge is getting to the person who makes hiring decisions. The best tool is the cover letter:

A good cover letter....

• is addressed to a person (not "to whom it may concern")
• personalizes your résumé to a particular employer (and demonstrates that you know something about the employer's business)
• begins with a strong opening statement (to capture interest)
• is short (to hold interest)
• emphasizes your value as a potential employee (by stressing your skills and accomplishments)
• enumerates how you meet the job requirements specified, when responding to an ad or job announcement
• asks for an interview (and leaves the door open for you to recontact the employer)
• Since the first sentence is usually the most difficult, we'll get you started with some samples of opening statements and an example of a complete letter.

You will see from my attached résumé that I am skilled in __________ and could be an asset to XYZ Company.

If you are looking for an employee who ________, I believe you will be interested in the attached résumé.

Can you use a ___(job title)___ with the ability to ___(skills)___? I have these talents.

If XYZ Company is on the lookout for a good (job title), you may be interested in my skills and achievements.

My enclosed résumé shows the skills and abilities I can bring to your business.

The cover letter should meet the standards of your résumé...neat, concise, grammatically sound and words correctly spelled.

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