The first thing a potential employer sees is not your
resume but your cover letter. A clear, focused and
memorable cover letter will get your resume read and
put you in line for an interview. A couple hints:
Address the letter directly to a specific person –
preferably the person who's making the hiring
decision.
Be yourself in the letter, but don't be cute or
overconfident.
A cover letter is your foot in the door. Use it to
explain how your skills fit the employers needs and
how you can be part of the company.
Read the job opening carefully and address each point
within the cover letter.
Even if you're the best possible person for a
position, if you're cover letter and resume read like
you're in 6th grade you'll be hard pressed to get an
interview – much less the job. Make sure what you
write is professional and reads well. Under no
circumstances let spelling or grammatical errors
exist – if you have trouble in this regard consider
hiring someone to guide you.
The Internet offers an almost unlimited selection of
cover letters and resumes to look to for guidance.
Other people have gone before you so make sure you
learn from their experience.
An unfortunate trend is exaggerating– or downright
lying – on resumes and cover letters. Not only is
this unethical but, unlike several years ago, most
resumes are checked for accuracy. Even if you don't
get caught in a lie during the application process
you can be let go when it finally catches up with
you. Make your life simple and be honest.
Most applicants have had that odd period where they
were between jobs. Make sure your resume details what
you did during that time. If you're between jobs
right now, think about doing something in your
community which relates to what you'd like to do.
Employers become nervous when an applicant can't
account for time missing.
When writing your employment history, don't simply
use the job description. Tell the employer not only
what you did, but what you accomplished and how it
benefited the company. The goal of your resume is to
convince a potential employer that your skills and
experiences can help them reach their goals. Make
sure you don't let this opportunity pass you by.
