Cover Letters, Resumes, Portfolios and Interviews - Getting to Know You!
You have heard the phrase "You never get a second chance to make a first impression!" Your cover letter and resume - a portfolio if applicable - ARE your first impression. Take advantage of the free services offered online.
I highly recommend the University of Wisconson's website on Cover Letters, Resumes, Portfolios and Interviews - where you will find samples and examples. See http://www3.uwstout.edu/careers/develope.cfm
Here are some gems gleaned from www.resume-help.org
Cover Letters
Your cover letter should be addressed to a specific person - avoid the "Dear Sir or Madam". Form letters insult the reviewer's intelligence and indicate that you, the writer, are broadcasting his/her resume to every employer in the area. Or you have not made an effort to learn more about the company.
White space [in resumes] is important. Open up the newspaper, and take note of which ads first catch your attention. Are they the ads that are jammed full of text, or are they ads that have a large amount of unused space ("white space"). This is done to grab your attention, as readers are always attracted to open areas.
Use a different color paper for mailing your resumes. Chances are, you're using a cream, white, or gray paper color. Yes? So is everyone else. Be creative, and use a non-resume paper. Be original, and stand out. With that said, should you use hot pink? No, remember you're applying for a professional career - but do choose something less common than white, cream, or gray.
Often overlooked, the follow-up is the final step in the interviewing process. It's essential that you send a thank-you note to every person you met at the company (remember to ask for business cards). In your letter, summarize your conversation and re-emphasize the skills you would bring to the position.
Cover Letters
Your cover letter should be addressed to a specific person - avoid the "Dear Sir or Madam". Form letters insult the reviewer's intelligence and indicate that you, the writer, are broadcasting his/her resume to every employer in the area. Or you have not made an effort to learn more about the company.
White space [in resumes] is important. Open up the newspaper, and take note of which ads first catch your attention. Are they the ads that are jammed full of text, or are they ads that have a large amount of unused space ("white space"). This is done to grab your attention, as readers are always attracted to open areas.
Use a different color paper for mailing your resumes. Chances are, you're using a cream, white, or gray paper color. Yes? So is everyone else. Be creative, and use a non-resume paper. Be original, and stand out. With that said, should you use hot pink? No, remember you're applying for a professional career - but do choose something less common than white, cream, or gray.
Often overlooked, the follow-up is the final step in the interviewing process. It's essential that you send a thank-you note to every person you met at the company (remember to ask for business cards). In your letter, summarize your conversation and re-emphasize the skills you would bring to the position.
Resumes
In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly, therefore make key phrases stand out. Bulleting information will help the reader view your accomplishments at a glance.
Use action words - words like prepared, managed, developed, championed, monitored, and presented will cause your resume to stand out. We've compiled a list of action words, take a look at them: resume verb and keyword examples. If your resume is scanned electronically, the computer will pick up on the words.
Match the need they have - review job postings online and in the newspapers for positions that interest you. Each position will usually have a brief blurb about the company and the position available. Use the keywords listed in these ads, and match them to the bullet points in your resume.
Above all in your resume and interview - you must be positive. Therefore, leave off negatives and irrelevant points. If you feel your graduation date will subject you to age discrimination, leave it off your resume. If you do some duties in your current job that don't support your job search objective, don't include them. Focus on the duties that do support your objective, and leave off irrelevant personal information like your race, weight, and height.
In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly, therefore make key phrases stand out. Bulleting information will help the reader view your accomplishments at a glance.
Use action words - words like prepared, managed, developed, championed, monitored, and presented will cause your resume to stand out. We've compiled a list of action words, take a look at them: resume verb and keyword examples. If your resume is scanned electronically, the computer will pick up on the words.
Match the need they have - review job postings online and in the newspapers for positions that interest you. Each position will usually have a brief blurb about the company and the position available. Use the keywords listed in these ads, and match them to the bullet points in your resume.
Above all in your resume and interview - you must be positive. Therefore, leave off negatives and irrelevant points. If you feel your graduation date will subject you to age discrimination, leave it off your resume. If you do some duties in your current job that don't support your job search objective, don't include them. Focus on the duties that do support your objective, and leave off irrelevant personal information like your race, weight, and height.
The following information is fleshed out at www.quintcareers.com
Portfolios
What is a job skills, job-search, or career portfolio? It is a job-hunting tool that you develop that gives employers a complete picture of who you are - your experience, your education, your accomplishments, your skill sets - and what you have the potential to become - much more than just a cover letter and resume can provide. You can use your career portfolio in job interviews to showcase a point, to illustrate the depth of your skills and experience, or to use as a tool to get a second interview.
Most experts agree that the portfolio should be kept in a professional three-ring binder (zipper closure optional). You should include a table of contents and use some kind of system – such as tabs or dividers - to separate the various parts of the portfolio.
Besides the traditional portfolio, if you have access to space on a Web site, you should also consider developing an online Web-based portfolio.
So, what types of things go in a portfolio? See a complete list at www.quintcareers.com/job_search_portfolio.html
Remember as you contemplate these items is that you want to give reasons for the employer to hire you - you want to showcase your education and work experience by showing examples and evidence of your work, skills, and accomplishments.
Portfolios
What is a job skills, job-search, or career portfolio? It is a job-hunting tool that you develop that gives employers a complete picture of who you are - your experience, your education, your accomplishments, your skill sets - and what you have the potential to become - much more than just a cover letter and resume can provide. You can use your career portfolio in job interviews to showcase a point, to illustrate the depth of your skills and experience, or to use as a tool to get a second interview.
Most experts agree that the portfolio should be kept in a professional three-ring binder (zipper closure optional). You should include a table of contents and use some kind of system – such as tabs or dividers - to separate the various parts of the portfolio.
Besides the traditional portfolio, if you have access to space on a Web site, you should also consider developing an online Web-based portfolio.
So, what types of things go in a portfolio? See a complete list at www.quintcareers.com/job_search_portfolio.html
Remember as you contemplate these items is that you want to give reasons for the employer to hire you - you want to showcase your education and work experience by showing examples and evidence of your work, skills, and accomplishments.
Interviewing
Normally job-seekers need to focus on the positive - but here are some things to be wary of...
Poor handshake: The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport.
Talking too much: In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative candidates. So did most of my client employers. Over-talking takes a couple of forms: - Taking too long to answer direct questions. The impression: This candidate just can't get to the point. - Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is covering up something or is outright lying.
Not preparing for the interview: Nothing communicates disinterest like a candidate who hasn't bothered to do pre-interview research. On the flip side, the quickest way to a good impression is to demonstrate your interest with a few well thought out questions that reflect your knowledge of their organization.
Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary: What if a car salesman asked to see your credit report before allowing you to test drive the cars? That would be ridiculous, and you'd walk away in disgust. The effect is about the same when a job-seeker asks about benefits or other employee perks during the first interview. Wait until you've won the employer over before beginning that discussion.
Do check out The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Preparation at www.quintcareers.com/job_interview_preparation.html
Normally job-seekers need to focus on the positive - but here are some things to be wary of...
Poor handshake: The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport.
Talking too much: In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative candidates. So did most of my client employers. Over-talking takes a couple of forms: - Taking too long to answer direct questions. The impression: This candidate just can't get to the point. - Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is covering up something or is outright lying.
Not preparing for the interview: Nothing communicates disinterest like a candidate who hasn't bothered to do pre-interview research. On the flip side, the quickest way to a good impression is to demonstrate your interest with a few well thought out questions that reflect your knowledge of their organization.
Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary: What if a car salesman asked to see your credit report before allowing you to test drive the cars? That would be ridiculous, and you'd walk away in disgust. The effect is about the same when a job-seeker asks about benefits or other employee perks during the first interview. Wait until you've won the employer over before beginning that discussion.
Do check out The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Preparation at www.quintcareers.com/job_interview_preparation.html