Welcome to the puzzling — and often frustrating — world of résumés and cover letters. These are your first chances to make a positive, lasting impression and therefore need to be done right. We're not saying there's a "one size fits all" strategy, but we'll guide you through portraying your best professional self. Apply these steps to your résumé and cover letter writing and put them to the test. If you still don't see results, go back, review some of these sections, and start making some small adjustments. Eventually, you'll get to the right combination. When you notice employers are calling more often and you're getting more interviews, you'll know you're there.
I. Writing your résumé
Step one: The formula
Hiring managers spend an average of one minute scanning a résumé. You have just a short window of opportunity to convince them that you're either fabulous or the most boring person alive. Which is it gonna be?
Here are the elements that your résumé should include:
Contact information:> Your name (if your formal name is Abigail, but you go by Abby, use Abby), address, phone number, e-mail address and Web site. Make sure to use a professional e-mail address for your job applications. Employers aren't likely to call HotPants1234@hotmail.com.
Career summary or objective:> These give the hiring manager an idea of who you are immediately — before spending the 60 seconds skimming your résumé and deciding whether to bring you in for an interview. Many job seekers equate a summary with an objective. While both are two to three sentences appearing at the top of your résumé, in reality, they are very different.
An objective states a job seeker's desired job description, and is often ideal for people who are just starting out in the workforce or changing industries. Some words of warning: It could pigeonhole you and limit how employers see you.
Consider this objective:
"Recent college graduate with a bachelor's degree in finance and honors distinction seeks entry-level position in the accounting industry."If you are looking to take the next step in your chosen field, consider writing a career summary instead. A career summary gives an overview of your work experience and/or relevant education.
This is a career summary:
"Marketing professional with more than ten years experience in online, interactive marketing and advertising in a B2B capacity."
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Is there an exception to these rules? Of course. It's not necessary to always include a career summary or an objective, but with hiring managers spending less and less time reviewing résumés, this could give you the edge by summarizing your experience and job goals.
Summary of qualifications:> This calls out the most relevant information for the job. If you include this, the hiring manager doesn't have to hunt for your abilities. This is an easy way to tailor your résumé for each job application. Look at the required skills listed in the job posting and use this as an opportunity to highlight the skills needed for the job. If you are changing careers or industries, this section helps you highlight certain transferable skills.
Technical skills:> This is where you can show your computer and software proficiency. Are you missing a technical skill listed in the job description? Don't throw in the towel. Seventy-eight percent of hiring managers report they are willing to recruit workers who don't have experience in their particular industry or field and provide training/certifications needed.
Work history:> This is where you list chronologically...
