Resume & Cover
Letter Writing
Resume
Makeover
By Kevin Donlin,Guaranteed
Resumes
I'd like to tell you
about a fast, easy way to make a dramatic improvement in
your resume.
It's this -- ask a
trusted friend to read it. Sounds obvious, right?
If it
were, I wouldn't see as many misspellings, grammatical errors,
cluttered layouts and just plain boring content in the dozens
of resumes people send me every week to review.
Why
so many mistakes? Most folks are just too involved with
the story of their resumes to accurately judge the content.
They fail to see gaffes in spelling or grammar that are
obvious to someone reading their resume for the first time.
That's
why it's crucial to get a second opinion from someone you
trust. Preferably from two, three or four people, if you
have time.
Content
is most important, so ask your friend this: "Would
this resume make you want to call me for an interview today?"
If the answer is yes, congratulations! If not, ask your
friend EXACTLY what he or she would change. Then get a second
opinion to look for problem areas that come up repeatedly.
A sneaky
way to check the "readability" of your resume
is to ask your friend to read it aloud. Listen for pauses
or breaks in their voice - these indicate sentences that
may be unclear. Revise later to make them smoother.
When
your friends are reading your resume, ask them to check
these four areas: spelling, spacing between words, punctuation
and content.
A spell
checker won't spot the difference between there, their and
they're, but another person will! So ask your friends to
circle every word that isn't 100% clear. This will help
you produce a resume that's 100% accurate.
And
be sure to print the resume before you proofread it. You'd
be surprised at how many errors become visible on a printed
page versus a computer screen.
There
are other areas, but these should get you started.
Best of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets
Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you
find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.
Three
Little Resume Things
By Kevin Donlin
It's
the little things that can add up to create a resume that
opens doors for you ... or slams them in your face.
Let's
shoot for that first option, OK?
Here
are three "little things" to watch out for in
your resume to make sure you're putting your best foot forward,
sticking that foot in the door and generating job interviews!
Be consistent
In your
use of punctuation, abbreviations, job titles, etc., it's
important to set a pattern and follow it consistently as
you write your resume.
For
example, you should either abbreviate all state names the
same way (MN, CA or Minn., Calif.), or write them all out
in full. Don't alternate between the two.
Failure
to be consistent will distract readers and ruin the impression
you're trying to make.
Exercise restraint
When
it comes to choosing the fonts, bullet points and other
design elements in your resume, less is usually more.
Don't
overwhelm readers with a half dozen fonts, heavy italics,
all capital letters or pink paper -- all of which I've actually
seen.
Unless
you're applying for a position as a rodeo clown or cake
decorator, keep your creativity in check. Focus much more
on high-quality wording than mind-blowing design.
Limit the length
There
are other resume writers who say a three-page resume is
OK, but because I've offered my clients an unconditional
money-back guarantee since 1996, I have to go with what
works.
So I
insist on two pages as the maximum length for 99.9% of all
resumes.
Note:
curriculum vitae, used in Europe and by some professionals
in North America, can run up to five pages, but I'm talking
about resumes here. The only people who will read your five-page
resume all the way through are you and your mother.
As a
seasoned recruiting professional once told me: "The
goal isn't to hit them over the head with everything you've
ever done. The goal is to get a job interview."
I pay
close attention to these three things -- consistent writing
style, restrained layout and a two-page maximum length --
in the dozens of resumes I write every month. When it comes
to the most important resume in the world -- yours -- you
should, too.
Best of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers
provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance.
He is also author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets
Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you
find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.
Objection!
How NOT to Start Your Resume
By Kevin Donlin, Guaranteed
Resumes
Well
begun is half-done. But far too many resumes being with
objective statements that can only be described as ... half-baked.
As a
professional resume writer, I review and analyze nearly
2,000 resumeseach year. And the opening objective is an
area where almost everyone could use a little help with
their resume.
To show
you what I mean, here are three example objectives from
actual resumes sent to me for analysis by job seekers just
like you. (My comments are in parentheses.)
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a responsible (as opposed to irresponsible?) and
challenging (what, you don't like dull work?) position where
my education and work experience will have valuable application
(like finding a cure for cancer?)
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a position in the sales department with an opportunity
for advancement (in effect, you're saying to the employer,
"Give me a job where the pay is good ... and keeps
getting better.")
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a challenging career with a progressive organization
which will utilize my skills, abilities and education in
management, product management, operations, purchasing and
buying. (Zzzzz. You won't bore anyone into hiring you.)
You
can stand out from the crowd if you'll just write your objective
fromthe employer's point of view, instead of your own. Sounds
simple, doesn't it?
It is.
All
you have to do when writing your objective is make sure
it answers this question: "What's in it for me?"
That's the question on every employer's mind as he or she
reads your resume.
Here's
an example objective, to get you started:
OBJECTIVE
Management position in procurement where over 10 years of
experience will add value to operations.
Avoid
such trite phrases as: "seeking a chance for advancement,"
or "where my skills will be utilized," or "where
I can further my career." I've seen each of these on
resumes that were badly hampered as a result.
So,
to keep your objective from being objectionable (and torpedoing
your job search), put the focus where it belongs -- on the
employer and their needs.
Best of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin owns and operates Guaranteed Resumes. Kevin has over
11 years of writing and hiring experience, including as
a marketing copywriter for such clients as Federal Express,
Pillsbury and Northern States Power. Since 1995, he has
provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance
to clients on five continents. Kevin provides personal,
one-on-one resume writing and job-search assistance and
he has also authored Resume Secrets Revealed, a do-it-yourself
manual that makes writing your own Guaranteed Resume a breeze
... even for someone who's never written a resume before!
Focus
on Results to Add Punch to Your Resume and Cover Letter
By Kevin Donlin, Guaranteed
Resumes
If your
resume is like most, it's heavy on duties and responsibilities
-- the things you do every day. It's probably light on achievements
and results.
And
your job search is probably taking longer than it should.
Because
responsibilities don't excite employers. Results do.
Here's
how to put some punch into your resumes and cover letters
by focusing on results.
While
you must tell your reader a bit about what you do every
day, it's far more effective to elaborate on the good things
that happen when you do your job well. Example: How many
projects did you bring in on time and under budget this
year? How did this contribute to increased revenue? Be as
specific as possible.
If you're
still in college or have only limited work experience, that's
OK. You can include reference to scholarships you've won,
volunteer fundraising, internships -- any good things you've
done that prove you have the skills to do your next job.
If you
get stuck trying to include more achievements in your resume
and cover letter, try adding "AS A RESULT ... "
to the end of your duties and see where that leads you.
Here
are two before-and-after examples from actual resumes, sent
to me by prospective clients.
BEFORE
(all duties, no results):
"Visited branches weekly to motivate sales personnel."
AFTER
(with specific results):
"Visited 21 branches weekly to motivate and develop
140 personnel. As a result, put five sales reps into top
five rankings statewide -- a company first."
BEFORE
(all duties, no results):
"Performed research and cost effective purchasing of
fire-fighting equipment."
AFTER
(with specific results):
"Researched 13 vendors, negotiated pricing and purchased
fire-fighting equipment. As a result, saved $124,000 versus
1999 expenditures."
Are
you starting to see the possibilities?
Don't
make it hard for employers to figure out your true value.
Tell them -- specifically -- in your resumes and cover letters
by emphasizing results you've produced. As a result, your
next job search should be an achievement in itself.
Best
of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers
provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance.
He is also author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets
Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you
find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.
Cover
Letter Questions
By Kevin Donlin
Are you struggling
to write a cover letter?
If so,
you've got company. I get dozens of questions about writing
cover letters every week from people like you.
Here
are four of the most common cover letter questions, with
answers to guide you!
Q. I
don't know the recipient's name -- how should I start my
cover letter?
A. Whatever you do, avoid such cliches as "Dear Sir
or Madam" or "To whom it may concern."
If possible,
call the target employer and get an actual name of an actual
recipient. This will set you apart from most applicants.
If that
fails, try writing: "Dear employer." It has a
confident ring about it, without sounding pretentious.
Q.
How long should my cover letter be?
A. Confine yourself to one page. Anything longer says to
the reader: "Hello. I have no idea how to prioritize
my thoughts. Care to hear my life story?" Not effective.
Q. The
classified ad asks me to include my expected salary. What
should I say?
A. Nothing.
This
may sound controversial, but I advise you NOT to answer
questions of salary.
Why?
Employers
ask about salary to screen out candidates who are over-qualified
or under-qualified (in their minds). But how can they judge
you accurately before they've ever spoken to you? Instead,
I recommend you say this: "My salary requirements are
negotiable."
Q. What's
the purpose of a cover letter, anyway? Do I really need
to send one?
A. Yes and no.
While
it may not be necessary if you plan to hand deliver your
resume or apply for an internal position, a cover letter
is essential if you're applying for jobs in the newspaper
or on the Internet.
According
to an article in the Wall Street Journal's National Business
Employment Weekly, "Your cover letter can make or break
whether your resume goes into the 'yes' pile or the 'no'
pile. A really terrific cover letter can change the reader's
mind."
Use
your cover letter to show off your knowledge of the company
and the industry. And be sure to convey your enthusiasm
for the job -- enthusiasm sells.
Think
of your cover letter as vermouth and your resume as gin.
Separately, each has its own merits, but when combined with
care, they create something special.
Best of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers
provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance.
He is also author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets
Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you
find a job in 30 days ... or your money back
I,
Me, My -- A Cover Letter Makeover
By Kevin Donlin, Guaranteed
Resumes
Since
your cover letter is written by you and for the job that
you want, it may seem natural spend a lot of time talking
about you and your skills/qualifications.
Unfortunately,
this often produces myopic (or "I-opic") cover
letters...and poor results.
Remember
that all employers listen to the same radio station: WII-FM.
That stands for "What’s In It For Me?"
To stand
out from a stack of cover letters, yours must focus less
on you and more on the results you can deliver.
If you
do nothing else, try replacing the words "I",
"me" and "my" with "you" wherever
possible. This will put the emphasis back where it belongs
-- on the employer and his/her problems.
Here’s
a before-and-after example of an actual cover letter. Note
the number of times "I" and "my" appear:
"I
am enclosing my resume for your review because I am very
interested in obtaining a full-time position as an Investment
Banking Analyst at Ace Financial.
"I
am well qualified for this position. In addition to the
strong quantitative and analytical skills I have developed
as an undergraduate economics major and in my work experience,
I have a proven ability to stay focused for long hours under
pressure."
There
are five instances of "I" and two of "my."
Now,
here’s that same cover letter, revised to focus more
on the reader:
"I
am applying for the position of Investment Banking Analyst
where my combination of economics training and high-tech
experience will add value to your operations. Please consider
the following:
"You
will gain from my strong financial background, which includes
a recent bachelor’s degree in economics, coupled with
experience researching and trading securities as a successful
investor (resulting in returns of 200%)."
Just
one "I" and two "mys" -- a 57% reduction.
With "you" and "your" thrown in twice
for good measure.
Replacing
"I" with "you" is an old advertising
trick that’s worked for decades. (Read any good advertisement
and you’ll always find "you" and "your"
sprinkled liberally throughout.) And what’s your cover
letter? Essentially, it’s an advertisement for your
résumé...which is an advertisement for you.
So follow
the rules of the world’s most successful advertising
copywriters. Focus on "you," the reader, to dramatically
improve the effectiveness of your cover letters.
Best
of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets
Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you
find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.
How
to Write an Unsolicited Cover Letter
By Kevin Donlin, Guaranteed
Resumes
Here's
a question I hear frequently. "I want to work for a
company that is not advertising any openings on the Internet
or in the newspapers, but I can't figure out how to write
my cover letter. Any suggestions?"
The
good news is, you don't have to wait for a job opening to
apply to a company that interests you. In fact, simply identifying
a target company puts you ahead of most job seekers, who
know only that they want a job ... and not much else.
Use this to your advantage.
Start
by defining what you want to do for your desired company.
What department do you want to work in? Sales? Information
Systems? Customer Service?
Next,
find out the name of the person you'd be working for. You
can look through the company's Web site for organizational
charts, often found under "About Us" or a similar
link. Or, just pick up the phone and call to get that manager's
name.
Once
you have the name of your potential boss, it's time to write
your cover letter.
The
more customized and specific your cover letter is, the better.
So, try to research this firm to ferret out as much as possible
about their problems and opportunities
When
writing, be sure to include the contact person's name and
mailing address at the top. If you have a potential answer
to a problem the company faces, try to start your letter
with that information.
To get
you started, here's an example cover letter for the position
of Customer Service Manager, sent unsolicited to a targeted
employer. It's from my e-book, "Guaranteed Cover Letters,"
which is available at http:/www.gresumes.com/cbook.htm
--
Dear Mr. Jenkins,
How
often have breakdowns in your customer service resulted
in lost business and costly headaches?
I can help you.
I've
been following your firm, ACE Electronics, for some time.
As you will see from my enclosed résumé, I
know how to manage teams of customer service reps for maximum
productivity.
My experience
has shown me how to train and motivate staff to identify
and meet the needs of even the most demanding customers.
This will greatly increase loyalty among your XE-400 customers
in particular, given the fact that your competitor, Dynamic
Systems, has recently introduced a lower-priced, similar
product.
Because
you will undoubtedly need expertise of this kind, I hope
you will be able to take my call next Tuesday at 10:00 to
discuss your needs and how I might benefit ACE Electronics.
Sincerely,
John Q. Public
--
Print your cover letters
on plain white typing paper. Sign at the bottom, neatly.
That's it.
Best of luck to you!
-- Kevin
Donlin owns and operates Guaranteed Resumes. Kevin has over
11 years of writing and hiring experience, including as
a marketing copywriter for such clients as Federal Express,
Pillsbury and Northern States Power. Since 1995, he has
provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance
to clients on five continents. Kevin provides personal,
one-on-one resume writing and job-search assistance and
he has also authored Resume Secrets Revealed, a do-it-yourself
manual that makes writing your own Guaranteed Resume a breeze
... even for someone who's never written a resume before!
• Sample Resumes, Cover Letters and Thank You Letters
• Resume Makeover
• Three Little Resume Things
• Objection! How NOT to Start Your Resume
• Focus on Results to Add Punch to Your Resume and
Cover Letter
• Cover Letter Questions
• I, Me, My -- A Cover Letter Makeover
• How to Write an Unsolicited Cover Letter
Build
the Resume Employers Want
Carefully
Crafted Cover Letter
Covering Letter
