Quintessential Resume & Cover Letter Tips

Before starting to write, and to avoid these "don'ts," print the job description and break out a highlighter. Dissect the job description by highlighting the nouns strategically hiding within the text. With this action, you not only verify that you possess all the skills and qualifications that the company seeks, but you also ensure that each of them are prominently or strategically listed within your job-search materials (i.e., resume, cover letter).

Nouns aren't difficult to locate. Take a purchasing agent position, as an example. Nouns (a.k.a., keywords) would include procurement, inventory management, and vendor auditing. Once you have a clear indication of these keywords, keep them in mind when you begin to write your cover letter. It's all about reflecting you as the perfect person for the position. If you possess the skills the employer is seeking, then it's simply a matter of ensuring your cover letter meets the company's expectations.

The next step is to strategically weave the words into your sentences. Be careful. Use only those that are relevant to your career history, and ensure each are adequately spaced throughout the content so hiring managers don't feel you're being blatant.

Consider using different word variations, if the need calls for it. Some descriptions can be reworded and shuffled around - and although they mean the same thing, it will help you shy away from plagiarizing the company's job description.

Let's say that a human doesn't review your cover letter, but maybe a management system stores it instead. Inserting select keywords into your resume and cover letter will definitely increase your chances there too. Amidst the dozens, hundreds, or thousands of jobseekers all vying for the job that's intended for you, selectively inserting keywords is great for both real and computer eyes. Keep that in mind when designing any portion of your job-search materials.

Learn how to write and design an amazing cover letter.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)

September 29, 2005

There Is No Such Thing as a “General Resume.”

Alice Hanson writes in an article in the Crossroads Jobseeker news by Net-Temps: "To target your resume, you need to practice. Write a separate chronological or combo-style resume for each job title you seek (private-sector recruiters heavily prefer these formats). If you don’t know what you want to do next, write a functional resume that describes your skills, then seek the help of a good career coach – or work with your network – to develop a list of possible job titles that fit your passions. Using all the techniques I’m about to mention, write a powerful resume that presents your value to employers for each of those targeted job titles." Read the full article

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 04:50 PM | Comments (0)

Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes

We continue our series of cover-letter articles by Teena Rose, a certified and published resume writer and author of The 20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer and Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales. Use Resume to Referral for a high-end, high-quality resume and cover-letter package.

Too many unprofessional, unfocused, and canned cover letters are floating around the job-seeking population. So are you surprised when I tell you that a fair number of hiring managers don't bother reading them?

Although I've seen no official survey on cover-letter readership, it's rumored that approximately 40 percent of cover letters aren't read. A number of reasons could be to blame; and frankly, who wants to spend valuable time reading a cover letter that sounds like it was written for the company next door too? Stock cover letters can kill your job-search efforts, making the task of finding a new position nothing but a treacherous expedition.

Adding to the anxiety for jobseekers comes the question: who's reading them and who is not? You could take the chance of not sending one, but then you'll stroke out with those who are expecting a cover letter. The only option is to send one every time to ensure that your resume is always properly represented.

Writing a great letter takes time. Time that jobseekers often don't want to allocate after spending hours tooling their resumes to perfection. Much like the resume, however, your cover letter must "sing" to the recipient. If it doesn't, you're soliciting employment on deaf ears. The best way to avoid sending a junk cover letter is to ask yourself the series of thought-provoking questions in the continuation of this entry.

Don't be intimidated by the depth of work involved in designing a great cover letter. Think about your job search in terms of quality not quantity. Sending countless cover letters and resumes is a very time-consuming process that has proven repeatedly to be a waste of valuable time and money. Job-seekers could find employment quicker if they took a consolidated and thorough approach to their search rather than blanketing their efforts with diluted methods (i.e., mass emailing).

Job-seekers sometimes become desperate when jobs seem scarce, and they resort to quick and ineffective techniques to securing a job. Writing cover letters that you would want to receive, if you were on the other end of the spectrum, is a good rule of thumb to follow. Outline all the core elements that are pertinent to each specific company, using language and specifics that speak directly to the reader and ensuring it displays you as a perfect match for the opening. With these select techniques, you're destined to secure more interviews and more job opportunities.

Learn how to write and design an amazing cover letter.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

September 28, 2005

Tell Employers What They Really Want to Know

In an article in the Gladiator newsletter, Steven Provenzano suggests that job-seekers "pre-digest" their information. "Employers may have a stack of resumes on their desk and a job to fill, right now, Provenzano writes. "They'll have some key requirements that candidates must meet before they'll consider an interview. What they want to know from each person "sitting" on their desk is: What can you do for me? How can you fill this job effectively? Why should I talk to you?

"If you send a resume with no Profile/Summary section, described briefly below, you're not sending a marketing piece; you're sending a job history. As an employer, that means you're telling me what you've done for someone else not what you can – or want – to do for me. That's why the Profile is so important; it gives you total control over how you're perceived by the employer. Besides, employers don't always have time to read 10 or 20 years of your work history before calling you in." Read the full article.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 04:40 PM | Comments (0)

Optimizing Your Cold-Contact Cover Letter

We continue our series of cover-letter articles by Teena Rose, a certified and published resume writer and author of The 20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer and Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales. Use Resume to Referral for a high-end, high-quality resume and cover-letter package.

Sending a letter to a company that may not have publicly advertised positions is called a cold-contact letter. You're contacting the employer to introduce yourself with the hope that it may spark an interest and result in a warm lead (also known as an interview). For obvious reasons, a cold-contact letter will generate the fewest leads, so paying special attention to the content and adding a couple of unique elements will increase your return rate.

Understanding the obstacles, too, will help you determine how to best handle them and result in additional responses to your correspondence.

Obstacles could arise from sending your cover letter and resume to a strained hiring department. Or maybe, a position doesn't exist for you or your skill set doesn't match their needs even if they were hiring. The point is, if you're determined to conduct a cold-contact campaign, don't be overly concerned when you receive few responses.

It seems clichéd or redundant to mention researching the company before forwarding your documents, but it's amazing on how many job-seekers fail to do just that. It's pivotal that you take a "quality, not quantity" approach to your job search. Focusing your efforts on targeting, researching, and applying to a small and specific list of employers will generate a higher return from your efforts. By researching potential employers, you're reflecting to the company that you're serious about joining their team – so much so, that you're willing to dedicate your personal time to learning about the company.

Unlike correspondence written a decade ago, the tone of letters has changed in today's job market. Incorporating a conversational tone to your letter will help readers relate to you. It's difficult to explain what exactly writing in conversational tone is other than to say it's similar to how you speak. You'll ditch many of the stuffy, stock fragments that once existed, such as, "Please find my resume attached in response to the position advertised in the Dayton Daily News." Instead, start your letter with something like: "A few months back, I met with John Brickman at the business exposition in Vancouver. I was stunned by his knowledge of the robotics industry. I realized, after speaking with him for only a few minutes, that Jackman Technologies, Inc., was a perfect fit for my skill set - and let me tell you why."

Don't design the letter to have a heavy or light appearance. You're shooting for something that is within a happy medium. When you're finished writing, sit back and examine your words. Let the letter sit overnight, if necessary. Always analyze every fragment and sentence you're using to determine if there's a better or more effective way of presenting yourself. It sounds a bit obsessive compulsive, but unfortunately, you REALLY DO have just one chance to make a great first impression.

Ensure that you're not wasting your time, or more importantly, the company's time. If you're a software engineer and the company you're targeting outsources its entire system needs, then you're wasting time vying for employment with that company. Know your viability factor before adding any company to your target list. Make a courtesy phone call, if necessary. If you place a call, ask for a contact name too. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Do your legwork before sending any cold-contact letter. Every jobseeker finds themselves sending this type of letter from time to time, yet do yourself a favor by cultivating the info you'll need to design a letter that outshines those used by others. A good rule of thumb to follow is "be innovative, not imitative."

Learn how to write and design an amazing cover letter.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2005

Three Great Resume Tips

Cynthia Shapiro, career coach and author, offers three excellent resume tips:

1) Be Bold: Think of your resume as a one-page billboard. Lots of white space, bold bullet points, and get rid of that vague objective. Quantify your accomplishments with numbers where you can.

2) Be the perfect fit: Mirror the ad's language in your cover letter and resume. Many companies use software that looks for key words to identify top candidates, usually those are the same words in the ads. Even if they do it the old fashioned way, it will make you look like a perfect match.

3) Avoid the No.1 mistake: Make sure your language exudes confidence. Too many candidates sound like they are asking or even begging for consideration. You are not asking, you are making them aware of all the wonderful things you have to offer. If you're not excited about what you have to offer, why should they be?

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)

Five Cover Letter Mistakes

With this blog entry, we begin a series of cover-letter articles by Teena Rose, a certified and published resume writer and author of The 20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer and Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales. Use Resume to Referral for a high-end, high-quality resume and cover-letter package.

To ensure you're always using a cover letter properly, let's review its intended purpose. A cover letter primarily connects your resume to an open position. To understand the importance of such a connection, you only need to put yourself in the position of a hiring manager for a day. Hiring managers, recruiters, HR personnel and others within the hiring realm, see several dozen – or potentially 100 or 1,000 – resumes per day. How receptive would you be at matching resumes up with the positions open within your company?

What's great is that a cover letter need not only spell out how you're a perfect fit for the position, but can also address salary issues, employment gaps, and any other qualification discrepancies, along with willingness to travel, availability for interviews, and provide a catalog list on how your career history matches the company's requirements.

The continuation of this entry contains a list of errors to avoid when sending a resume to hiring companies.

SLOPPY COPY: MARGINS, FONT, PICA, AND WRITTEN MATERIAL. The first impression given to any hiring agent is based on the overall appearance of your cover letter because it's the first item seen before proceeding onto the resume. If a cover letter arrives on that person's desk without consistent margins, font, pica, and without effective writing, your document has the potential of being "dead in the water" before the reader even thinks of turning the page.

LISTING UNRELATED SKILLS OR QUALIFICATIONS is probably the most common mistake candidates make. A highly skilled and educated person is wise to mention significant achievements that pertain to his or her current position or title. Listing irrelevant information in the cover letter can actually leave a negative impression; so revolve every sentence in your letter around the company's needs and expectations of you.

NO CONTACT NAME LISTED. By not listing a contact name, this shows lack of detail, not to mention, allowing the document to float around the office rather than sitting on the desk of the hiring agent. What if no contact information is available? Make a phone call to the company, or ask someone in your network for a contact name. Anytime you can add a personal salutation to your correspondence, you increase your chances of it being seen by the right person.

INCORRECT OR INCOMPLETE ADDRESS. Double-check everything - even if you pulled the address from the phone book, a classified ad, or the company website. Check two different locations to verify that the address you're listing is 100 percent accurate and complete.

IMPROPER BUSINESS FORMAT. The lack of proper business format is another common mistake. Use acceptable business format margins (.75" to 1.0" left and right) and knowing when to indent and double space. To add an additional amount of flair to your letter, utilize the same font, margins, and header as with your resume. When viewed as an entire package, it will look very professional and consistent.

By following these simple dos and don'ts, you should find the art of creating a cover letter somewhat painless. One last word of caution, however. Before sending any document, ensure to proofread, proofread, and proofread! A person can never be too careful when the fate of a great job is on the line.

Learn how to write and design an amazing cover letter.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)

September 26, 2005

Resume of More than One Page Often Needed

Workers shouldn't view their resume as just a one-page history of their education and work experience. One recruiting manager says the best resumes are well-crafted advertisements for a worker's accomplishments and abilities -- and that often means a longer resume.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Read more from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:28 AM | Comments (0)

Use Cover Letter to Demonstrate Communication Skills

The concept of using a cover letter to demonstrate communication skills is reinforced in a column by Kate Wendleton and Dale Dauten. An employer wrote to the career columnists to about his experience in reviewing cover letters during a recent search for technicians: "The most obvious thing that people failed to do," wrote the employer, "was to address the items that were called out in the job advertisements. Applicant packages that got the most attention were those that organized their applications to follow the job ads."

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:25 AM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2005

Employers Find Cover Letters Important: Part II

Think most hiring managers don't read cover letters? The perception that cover letters aren't important anymore is likely fed by the fact that some online job boards don't have a mechanism for submitting cover letters. But a study by CareerBuilder.com of 290 hiring managers across the U.S. revealed that 66 percent prefer an appropriate cover letter with the resume. Since you don't know which two-thirds of hiring managers like cover letters and which third don't, you need to always include a cover letter with your resume.

Further breaking down that 66 percent, Wendy Enelow, founder of Career Masters Institute points out that 33 percent of all recipients ALWAYS read the cover letter first; the other 33 percent glance at the cover letter after they've read the resume. Therefore, says Enelow, "Your letter must immediately communicate your value to an organization, for you never know which 33 percent will receive it."

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:22 AM | Comments (0)

A Handy Acronym for Important Resume Points

Want to remember some of the most important points in resume preparation?

Here's a handy acronym we came up with: FAKTSA.

F is for Focus. Your resume must be sharply focused on what type of position you seek and how you can contribute.

A is Appearance. A resume's attractive, eye-catching appearance beats a dull or hard-to-read resume any day.

K is for Keywords. Read why they're important.

T and S are for Transferable Skills. Read: Strategic Portrayal of Transferable Skills is a Vital Job-search Technique.

A is for Accomplishments. See this blog entry.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:08 AM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2005

Employers Find Cover Letters Important: Part I

More than two-thirds of human-resource managers view well-written, PERSONALIZED cover letters as advantageous to a job applicant, as reported in Resume Writer's Digest. Nearly half believe that cover letters are more important -- or as important as -- resumes. In still another poll, this one from HRnext/BenefitsNext, 7 percent of respondents said the cover letter is so important that it can clinch a job, and nearly 40 percent characterized cover letters as "among the important factors" in the hiring process." "It depends on the job" was the response of 22 percent, which is important to note for those aspiring to jobs in which they will be judged by how well they express themselves. According to almost 20 percent of respondents, a good cover won't necessarily land you the job, but an awful one will throw you out of contention.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:07 AM | Comments (0)

Resumania Tips for a Winning Resume

Accountemps Chairman Max Messmer, who writes Resumania, a weekly column for Scripps Howard News Service, offers the following suggestions for creating a winning resume:

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:02 AM | Comments (0)

September 23, 2005

Failure to Send Letter Can Mean Job-Search Failure

One of the "Top 5 Reasons Why Job Hunters Fail" is "not writing a cover letter," Robin Ryan notes in an article in her monthly newsletter.

"Human-resources managers state that cover-letter writing is becoming a lost art," Ryan writes, "since job hunters think they can skip this step when they apply electronically."

"A well-written cover letter has great power with employers and should always precede any resume sent. Open the letter with a powerful first paragraph that sums up the background, key strengths, skills and accomplishments you have to offer. Human-resource managers say that a good cover letter demonstrates your communication skills and can capture the interview," Ryan advises.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)

Keep Your Resume Out of Spam Filters

Looking for work online often means job-seekers must send out their resumes electronically. But how can a job-seeker make sure his or her resume will not get deleted by a company's junk-mail filter? Career Journal offers some tips on writing a resume that gets noticed by employers and not filters.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

September 22, 2005

Most Cover Letters are Flawed

In a Wall Street Journal article, writer Joann S. Lublin reported that, according to career coaches, an estimated 85 percent of cover letters are so flawed that senders never land an interview.

Interviewing an entrepreneur who had reviewed several hundred thousand cover letters since founding her business in 1983, Lublin discovered that the business owner found not even 1 percent of those letters acceptable. In response to a recent vacancy at the 150-employee firm, about 100 of the 150 job-seekers sent letters. "Two-thirds contained mistakes (including a misspelled current job title)," Lublin reported. "Fifteen applicants addressed the female CEO as 'Dear Sir.'" Only six cover letters specifically addressed qualifications listed in the ad, and the CEO found only three letters interesting enough to inspire her to read the senders' resumes.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)

September is Update Your Resume Month

A no-cost worksheet tool for helping you update your resume is available for download

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2005

Concise Advice for Cover Letters

For an ultra-quick guide to cover-letter format, you can't beat this instruction from career counselor Louise Giordano: Be brief, appropriate, and professional. In her article, Cover Letters Count!, Giordano also offers this formatting advice:

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Posted by Katharine at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)

Some Resume Pet Peeves

Here are some of employers' pet resume peeves, according to Sharon Gould Afforde, business-development manager for Manpower International:

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Posted by Katharine at 01:45 PM | Comments (0)

September 20, 2005

Search for Letter Recipient Through Fax Number

We recently performed a Google search on our Quintessential Careers fax number to prove a point. We advise job-seekers to follow up with employers after sending out their resume and cover letter, but sometimes ads and job postings provide only a fax number, so you don't even know what company you're writing to, let alone the name of the hiring manager. But if you try entering the fax number into Google, as we did, there's a good chance the name of the company will come up (as it did for the QuintCareers fax number), enabling you to further research the name of the hiring manager. You can also try reverse phone lookup feature at a site such as AnyWho. Employers will likely admire your resourcefulness if you can tailor the letter to their organization when only a fax number appeared in the job posting.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)

Use Distinctive File Name When Sending Resume via E-mail

When sending your resume as an e-mail attachment, don't give your resume the file name "resume," advises Jobseeker News. "Recruiters get 100s of resumes a day, so if you name your resume attachment "resume.doc" or "myresume." the recruiter's computer will automatically assign your resume in numerical sequence to the already thousands of resumes in the computer. So your file will now become "resume58742.doc" or something similar. Name your file with your first and last name and the word "resume." Your file name should look like this: "johndoeresume.doc". That way the recruiter can find faster you in the system, and you won't become "just a number."

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)

September 19, 2005

Dealing with an Employment Gap on Your Resume

When we think of The Gap, we all think of the clothing store with the super skinny models and cute ads, right? Well, in the wonderful world of resume writing and job searches, a gap in employment is a totally different ball game. In fact, it's one of the things that causes the most stress and fear in the hearts and minds of the job-seeker.

Our article tells you why and tells you how to handle and minimize job-history gaps. Read Cynthia Wright's full article.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)

Give Employers What Counts

As a cover-letter writer and job-seeker -- you must give employers what counts: a letter that complements your resume, serves as your first writing sample, and focuses the reader on what you have to offer, what you bring to the position, and why you are a suitable candidate. So says career counselor Louise Giordano in her article, Cover Letters Count!. Giordano notes that the cover letter elaborates, clarifies, or adds material in clear language that is compelling and sharp. A terrific resume might never get read if the cover letter doesn't hook the reader. Make a strong case for why you are a good fit for the job, providing specific examples matched to the employer's needs as stated in the job description. Point the reader to qualifications and experiences that clearly show your fit.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 11:56 PM | Comments (0)

September 18, 2005

Cover Letter Provides the Personal Touch

"I still think a personal approach in the search process is always the best," said Norine Dagliano in the Q&A interview she did with us. "The cover letter provides job-seekers an opportunity to 'speak' to the employer in their own words; to give the employer a little 'window into their personality;' to address the employer's needs by describing specific contributions they are prepared to make. We don't want to rewrite the resume for each job, but a well-constructed cover letter can expand upon the resume and bring to the employer's attention the key selling points to be considered." Read the full Q&A.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:38 AM | Comments (0)

Critique Your Own Resume

While it is always a good idea to get numerous people -- career professionals, former bosses and colleagues, mentors, and the like -- to review and evaluate your resume, you might want to first consider reviewing and critiquing your resume using the simple table presented in one of our articles. The most important thing to remember is to be sure you totally understand each criterion -- and then be completely honest on how your resume rates. (If you feel you cannot possibly be honest with yourself, then get a professional critique.)

Our Resume Critique Worksheet, offers a review of the 10 factors you should use to evaluate your resume.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:37 AM | Comments (0)

September 17, 2005

Type of Cover Letter Depends on Strategy

Each cover letter you send out should be a little different according to the intended recipient and strategy. Cover letters should be customized according to each of the four basic job-search strategies:
1. Responding to job postings.
2. Resume distribution to employers of your target market.
3. Contacting recruiters or headhunters.
4. Networking among your professional contacts.
Learn more in Deborah Walker's article, Four Cover Letters for Four Job-Search Strategies.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

Demystifying Resume Formats

Chronological. Functional. Chrono-Functional. Hybrid. Combination. Print. Formatted. RTF. Electronic. Text. Scannable. PDF. Web-based. All of these are terms that are tossed around when people talk about resume formats. How is a job-seeker supposed to know the best resume format in any given situation? Do you need more than one format? Just how many formats do you need? First, it's important to note that the term "format" has a couple of different meanings. When people talk about resume "format" they may be referring to:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different types of resumes? What are the common elements of all resumes? Our article. What Resume Format is Best for You? addresses these issues, giving you all the information you need to write the best resume for you -- given your job history and job-search strategy.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:32 AM | Comments (0)

September 16, 2005

Worksheet Helps You Brainstorm Accomplishments

Although resumes and cover letters should be accomplishments-driven (and should NOT focus on duties and responsibilities), many job-seekers have difficulty pinpointing their accomplishments. We offer a free worksheet to help you brainstorm the accomplishments that will help sell you to your next employer. A special section of the worksheet helps college students and new graduates identify their accomplishments.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:31 AM | Comments (0)

E-Resume is a Vital Tool

The e-resume, short for electronic resume, is a vital tool for today's job-seeker. But what exactly is an electronic resume? Even among career experts, opinions vary about what is or is not an electronic resume. It's a broadly used term that covers several types of resumes. What ties these resume types together is mode of delivery. Rather than traditional modes of resume delivery -- snailmail, faxing, and hand-delivery -- e-resumes are delivered electronically -- via e-mail, submitted to Internet job boards, or residing on their own Web page. Then there are sort of middle-tech cousins of e-resumes, scannable resumes -- used less and less frequently these days -- that are in print format but are ready to become electronic resumes through optical scanning. To learn more about the many forms of e-resumes, see our article, Your E-resume's File Format Aligns with its Delivery Method.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:30 AM | Comments (0)

September 15, 2005

Critique Your Own Cover Letter

You can critique every aspect of your cover letter and follow links for additional information, using our Cover Letter Checklist.

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Posted by Katharine at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)

Resume Preparation Services May Be Tax Deductible

It's worthwhile to note for next year's taxes that resume preparation is tax-deductible for many job-seekers. You must be looking for a job within the same field as previously employed. It can be a different job, but it must be within the same field. College grads seeking their first job cannot deduct resume preparation, nor can employees moving into self-employment. Additional information on job-search deductions is available in IRS Publication 529.

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Posted by Katharine at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)

September 14, 2005

Cover Letters to Recruiters

Are you aware of the special nuances of sending a cover letter to a recruiter/executive-search firm/headhunter? Our article, Cover Letters to Recruiters Require Special Handling, offers special tips for cover letters to recruiters.

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Posted by Katharine at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)

Keep Your Resume Updated

Despite today's uncertain job market, many managers do not maintain an updated resume, a survey shows. Executives polled said they believe only half (50 percent) of managers would be ready to send out application materials if they were to unexpectedly lose their jobs. The survey was developed by Accountemps, a temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies. "Those who keep an ongoing record of professional achievements are better positioned for the job search because they can more readily recall details of past responsibilities and accomplishments," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies® (Hungry Minds, Inc.). "This is particularly important for professionals who have been with the same employer for many years and, as a result, have not actively looked for a new position in some time." Messmer added, "A periodic resume update is also an ideal time to reassess career goals and identify marketable skills -- such as leadership or mentoring -- gained on the job."

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Posted by Katharine at 04:16 PM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2005

The T-Formation or 2-column Cover Letter

A particularly effective way to deploy the specifics of an ad or job posting to your advantage is to use a two-column format (also known as a "T-formation" letter) in which you quote in the left-hand column specific qualifications that come right from the employer's want ad and in the right-hand column, your attributes that meet those qualifications. The two-column format is extremely effective when you possess all the qualifications for a job, but it can even sell you when you lack one or more qualification. The format so clearly demonstrates that you are qualified in so many areas that the employer may be willing to overlook the areas in which your exact qualifications are deficient.

One of my former students describes her success in using the two-column format:

"Several months ago, you referred me to your Web site where there was a sample of a cover letter using a 'you require/I offer' table format. Believe it or not, I sent in my resume along with a cover letter in this format to a job that was posted on Monster.com, and I actually got an interview!! The position is with [name of company], and I can't even imagine how many applicants they had. When I went in for the interview, the person that I met with complimented me on the cover letter and actually said that that's what got me in the door ahead of so many others!"

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 04:13 PM | Comments (0)

What Employers Really Seek in a Resume

What are employers really looking for in resumes? Career Masters Institute uncovered some interesting answers to that question in its recent survey, "Professionally Written & Designed Resumes: From Getting Noticed to Getting Interviewed." In terms of first impressions, surveyed employers rated easy readability and use of bullets as the most important points. Highly ranked
content factors included a work history that's easy to read and documented achievements. Content elements that propel employers to immediately discard resumes include too much or too little information, irrelevant information, a focus on duties instead of accomplishments, and long, unexplained breaks in one's job history. Layout factors that send resumes to the circular file included lack of readability, density of type (paragraphs rather than bullet points), and unnecessary length. Careless spelling and the presence of typos are also resume killers for hiring managers. Finally, employers wanted resumes to show a clear match between the applicant and a particular job's requirements. A "general" resume that is not focused on a specific job's requirements was seen as not competitive.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 04:11 PM | Comments (0)

September 12, 2005

Consider "Word Bullets" for Your Cover Letter

"Word bullets" are a way to make your cover letter stand out. Word bullets (which can be used with regular bullets), also break up the text and are excellent for spotlighting words or phrases from the ad or job posting you're responding to. By pulling these words out of the ad, you can focus your letter sharply on how you meet the requirements that relate to those words. See an example of a letter that uses word bullets.

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Posted by Katharine at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)

Avoid the Bloated Resume

One of our favorite quotes about resumes comes from Mark Nelson, former partner of Dale Dauten of syndicated career-column fame. Describing a two-page resume with long paragraphs and tiny type, Nelson says: "This resume is like a lonely guy who can't get a date, so he sits at home and eats and gets bigger and bigger. I meet people all the time who think employers are going to get excited by lots of detail in their resumes. No. Instead, [employers] think, 'Here's a guy who can't prioritize and who doesn't respect his reader.'" Overstuffed and text-heavy resumes are a problem for many job-seekers. A good way to avoid them is to prioritize your resume content based on how well it answers some basic questions. For example, does your resume tell:
--What you can bring to the employer to improve the company's service and increase its profits?
--What you have done recently toward that end?
--How you can make money for the employer?
--How you can save money for the employer?
--How you can introduce and improve processes?
--How you can lead and develop people?
--How you can solve the company's problems?
(These questions came from career columnist Sandra Pesmen and consultant Nancy Bergman of Stanley Barber & Associates)

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)

September 11, 2005

Bullets Make Your Letter More Reader-Friendly

Consider using bullets in your cover letter to make it more reader-friendly. Bullet points can break up the text of your cover letter and draw the reader's eye to your most compelling selling points. Be sure you don't re-hash your resume's bullet points. And unlike bullet points on a resume, those on a cover letter should either be in complete sentences (instead of clipped, "telegraphed" resume language) or should complete the sentence that leads into the bulleted list.

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Posted by Katharine at 04:05 PM | Comments (0)

Do You Have a Headless Resume?

In the Q&A she did with us Professional resume writer Tracy Laswell Williams, talks about "the headless resume," which she says is less than desirable. "It has been my experience," Williams notes, "that many people (especially busy, overworked recruiters and hiring managers) have a hard time summarizing information on their own. Without a focused and persuasive summary at the beginning of your resume, you're missing a great opportunity to sell yourself by leaving it to the reader to form an overall impression of your qualifications."

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)

September 10, 2005

The Majority of Hiring Managers Read Cover Letters

Think most hiring managers don't read cover letters? The perception that cover letters aren't important anymore is likely fed by the fact that some online job boards don't have a mechanism for submitting cover letters. But a study by CareerBuilder.com of 290 hiring managers across the U.S. revealed that 66 percent prefer an appropriate cover letter with the resume. Since you don't know which two-thirds of hiring managers like cover letters and which third don't, you need to always include a cover letter with your resume.

Further breaking down that 66 percent, Wendy Enelow, founder of Career Masters Institute points out that 33 percent of all recipients ALWAYS read the cover letter first; the other 33 percent glance at the cover letter after they've read the resume. Therefore, says Enelow, "Your letter must immediately communicate your value to an organization, for you never know which 33 percent will receive it."

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:06 AM | Comments (0)

How Long Should Your Resume Be?

Once upon a time, someone came up with a "rule" that resumes should not exceed one page. No one really knows who came up with the rule, but a great many job-seekers still seem to live in fear of this supposed edict. The fact is that very few "rules" exist today in the world of resume writing. Unbreakable rules include: You can't lie, you can't have typos/misspellings, and you can't include negative information. Just about every other rule you've ever heard about resumes, however, is breakable, including rules about how many pages your resume should comprise. Read more about resume length, including lots of insight from experts, in our article The Scoop on Resume Length: How Many Pages Should Your Resume Be?

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Posted by Katharine at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 09, 2005

7 Elements of a Highly Effective Cover Letter

Do you know the 7 Elements of a Highly Effective Cover Letter? Find out.

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Posted by Katharine at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)

It's Not Hard to Improve Your Resume

We see hundreds of resumes, and we often see the same patterns over and over again. We frequently observe resume tendencies that are not necessarily mistakes, yet the job-seekers behind these resumes could have much nicer, cleaner, more readable resumes if they just tweaked a few things. And none of these tweaks are hard to accomplish. Even if your resume has other problems, you’ll see significant improvements if you make these 10 easy fixes. Check out these easy improvements in our article, Ten Easy Ways to Improve Your Resume

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Posted by Katharine at 03:50 PM | Comments (0)

September 08, 2005

Avoid Wimpy Language in Your Cover Letter

Avoid such phrases as "I feel" and "I believe." Your statements will be much stronger without them. It's best to either leave off the qualifier or use a stronger qualifier, such as "I am confident," I am convinced," or "I am positive." Read more.

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Posted by Katharine at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)

Create a Culturally Competent Resume

"For the culturally incompetent," writes Sarah Histed-Shergill, "the global job market provides a wealth of opportunity . . . to be misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted. You must prepare your resume with an international perspective," she writes. "By presenting your personal information in a culturally sensitive manner, you will enhance your chances of success in the global job market." Find out in Histed-Shergill's article, The Culturally Competent Resume for the Global Job Market, how to follow some simple steps to avoid the pitfalls of cultural faux pas and prevent potentially embarrassing and costly miscues.

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Posted by Katharine at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)

September 07, 2005

Don't Ramble; Focus on Your USP

Avoid rambling on too long in your cover letter or telling the story of your life/career. Keep you letter as brief as possible. Never, never more than one page. Keeping to four or five paragraphs of no more than three sentences each is a good guideline. Using bullet points in the letter is a good way to break up blocks of text and interest the reader. Some job-seekers tend to use their cover letters to provide a narrative of their life or career. That's not what the letter is all about; it's a marketing tool that should focus on the qualifications that will sell you to the employer. Your letter should answer the question that the employer will be asking while reading the words you've written: "Why should I hire this person?" Answer with your Unique Selling Proposition . Use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure. Ruthlessly eliminate all unnecessary words.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)

Never Lie on Your Resume

The old rule about not lying on your resume was hammered home by the 2001 fiasco surrounding would-be Notre Dame football coach George O'Leery, who was punted out of his new job coaching the Irish after one week when it was discovered he had lied on his resume about having a master's degree and fibbed about details of his own football-playing career. The moral of O'Leery's story is that even 20 years later, these untruths can come back to haunt you. O'Leery had many years to right the wrongs on his resume, and he should have done so.

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Posted by Katharine at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)

September 06, 2005

Tailor Your Letter Specifically

Be sure to specifically tailor your letter to the job you're applying for. If you're answering an ad or online job posting, the specifics of your cover letter should be tied as closely as possible to the actual wording of the ad you're responding to. In his book, Don't Send a Resume, Jeffrey Fox calls the best letters written in response to want ads "Boomerang letters" because they "fly the want ad words -- the copy -- back to the writer of the ad." In employing what Fox calls "a compelling sales technique," he advises letter writers to: "Flatter the person who wrote the ad with your response letter. Echo the author's words and intent. Your letter should be a mirror of the ad." Fox notes that when the recipient reads such a letter, the thought process will be: "This person seems to fit the description. This person gets it."

A particularly effective way to deploy the specifics of a want ad to your advantage is to use a two-column format in which you quote in the left-hand column specific qualifications that come right from the employer's want ad and in the right-hand column, your attributes that meet those qualifications. The two-column format is extremely effective when you possess all the qualifications for a job, but it can even sell you when you are lacking one or more qualification. The format so clearly demonstrates that you are qualified in so many areas that the employer may overlook the areas in which you lack the exact qualifications. See a sample letter in a two-column format.

Posted by Katharine at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)

Avoid Information Overload on Your Resume

Be careful not to overload your resume with too much information. When identifying employers, list your position/title, company name, city, state, and dates of employment. You do not need street addresses, phone numbers, or names of supervisors. The rule of thumb for someone with considerable experience is to list about 15 years worth of jobs. Age discrimination, unfortunately, is a reality, and even more likely, employers may think you're too expensive if you list too much experience on your resume. You can get more information about resumes, including some sample Web resumes, by visiting Quintessential Careers: Resume Resources.

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Posted by Katharine at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)

September 05, 2005

In Your Cover Letter, Don't Rehash Your Resume

Don't rehash your resume in your cover letter. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to the position, but you're wasting precious space -- and the potential employer's time -- if you simply repeat your resume.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)

Transition from Maiden to Married Name on Resume

How to handle the reversion from a maiden name to a married name -- or conversely, from a married name back to a maiden name -- on your resume, especially if you've published work under one name and are now using a different name: Do not change your name in your publications to your maiden name because if a potential employer were to look up the article and find a different name, the immediate assumption might be you are lying on your resume or vitae, and that's the end of your chance with that organization. Instead, try one of two simple remedies. First, and perhaps the easiest, is to simply include your current name in parenthesis, so, for example, if you were Mary Smith when you published those research works and you now go by Mary Jones, simply add the Jones on your vitae, such as Mary (Jones) Smith. Second, you could do the same thing on your resume as you would if an organization you worked for changed its name. Under your name at the top of your vitae, you could place, in smaller type, your former name, thus, Mary Jones in large type, (formerly Mary Smith) in smaller directly underneath.

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Posted by Katharine at 11:21 PM | Comments (0)

September 04, 2005

Typos and Misspellings are the Kiss of Death

Typos, misspellings, and incorrect grammar/punctuation can be fatal in a cover letter (resume, too). Your letter reflects your ability to write and communicate. Be sure your document is letter-perfect before sending it out. Proofread your letter. Put it down and proof it again a few hours later with a fresh eye. Then enlist a friend to review it for errors.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 06:29 PM | Comments (0)

Resumes from the HR Perspective

HR.com's David Creelman compiled some helpful observations from HR managers on how they read resumes. While HR people may look at resumes slightly differently from the way hiring managers do, the insight in Creelman's compilation is valuable for job-seekers. Here, we paraphrase Creelman's article in a way that sheds light for job-hunters:

1.Be sure your resume indicates a clear career progression. Even if you use a functional resume format that de-emphasizes dates, you can include a bare-bones work history that shows how your career has progressed.
2.Include keywords that relate to the specific job you're applying for.
3.Generally speaking, unless you're in a very creative field, stay away from brightly colored resume papers and highly unusual presentations. The HR person can more easily glean key information if your resume is in a more conventional format.
4.An HR manager who hires for entry-level office services and all levels of administrative assistants notes that key areas for employer scrutiny are years of experience in a related field and software or equipment proficiencies.
5.An HR manager who receives 50-150 e-mailed resumes daily is annoyed by the scattershot approach of jobseekers who answer ads for jobs they're not remotely qualified for. Don't irritate employers by sending out your resume willy-nilly hoping the blanket coverage will result in interviews. Instead, target carefully, and apply only for jobs for which you're truly qualified and interested in.
6.Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities. Employers know the responsibilities of the jobs they hire for; they want to know what you've done above and beyond those duties.
7.Tailor your resume, and especially your cover letter, to the specific job you're applying for. Tell how you qualify for THAT job. Some HR people who claim they don't even read cover letters list this lack of specificity as the reason they ignore the letters. Says Karen Geney of Hemophilia of Georgia: "I'm looking for someone who took the time to read our ad and to tailor a letter to our requirements."
Creelman concludes that "We [recruiters] all seem to face the same problem of overload. We need to get relevant information quickly. Job candidates do themselves a favor by tailoring the resume and cover letter and making sure the key points are easy to see."

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2005

Avoid Being Boring and Formulaic

Avoid being boring and formulaic in your cover letters. Don't waste your first paragraph by writing a boring introduction. Use the first paragraph to grab the employer's attention. Tell the employer why you are writing and summarize the reasons you are qualified for the position, expanding on your qualifications in later paragraphs. Read more. Don't use such cliches as "Enclosed please find my resume" or "As you can see on my resume enclosed herewith." Employers can see that your resume is enclosed; they don't need you to tell them. Such trite phrases just waste precious space. Write a letter that will make the employer want to get to know you better.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)

When a Former Employer Changes Names

What if a previous employer has changed its name? Should you use the new name on your resume or the old one? Both. A very simple protocol for handling company name changes on your resume is to simply list the current name of the company, and then, in parentheses and in smaller type, list the name of the company when you worked there. So, for example: Bank of America (formerly NationsBank). Make sure you follow all the other rules of resume-writing. See a quick overview at Quintessential Careers: Resumes Do's and Don'ts,or go for a more detailed review by using Quintessential Careers: Resume Tutorial.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)

September 02, 2005

Accomplishments May Trump Limited Experience

If you've had jobs that were of short duration, focus on highlighting and leveraging your accomplishments from your previous work experience. Consider reading For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments. Remember that no matter how good a job you do with your resume, the question about your last few experiences will likely be asked – and you need to be prepared with a good answer. Talk about how there were circumstances out of your control that have since been resolved – that you are ready to make a longer-term commitment to your next employer – to stay for as long as there are challenges to conquer and results to deliver to help the company’s bottom line. You can find more interviewing resources at the Quintessential Careers Guide to Job Interviewing Resources.

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Posted by Katharine at 12:39 AM | Comments (0)

Best Salutations for Cover Letters

Try to avoid addressing your cover letter to "Dear Personnel Director/HR Director," "To Whom It May Concern," "Dear Sir or Madam" (or worse, "Dear Sirs") instead of a named individual -- all lazy approaches that show the employer that you were not concerned enough to find out the name of the person with the hiring power. It's not always easy to find the name of the specific hiring manager, but try to do so if at all possible. Usually, you can just call the company and ask who the hiring manager is for a given position. Tap into your personal network to learn the names of hiring managers. Let's say a company post an opening online. You know someone who works at the company. Ask your contact to find out the name of the person hiring for that position. Also use the library, phone book, and Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries Internet to track down names of hiring managers. The worst-case scenario is that your letter will begin "Dear Hiring Manager for [name of position]:" It's not the best approach, but if you absolutely cannot find a name, this salutation does at least provide some specificity.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

September 01, 2005

Convey to Employer the Benefit of Hiring You

Don't tell the employer in your cover letter what the company can do for you instead of what you can do for the company. This mistake is particularly common among new college graduates and other inexperienced job-seekers. In most cases, employers are in business to make a profit. They want to know what you can do for their bottom line, not what they can do to fulfill your career dreams. Tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to the company.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:38 AM | Comments (0)

Don't Stretch the Truth about Accomplishments

Be sure you are totally truthful about the accomplishments you list on your resume. Have you really accomplished all the things you say you did on your resume? Remember that a resume is a statement of facts. While you can put a spin on your accomplishments, the bottom line is that they all must be truthful statements.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Posted by Katharine at 12:34 AM | Comments (0)