Getting That Plum Job: Polish Your Resume and Cover Letter
November 7th, 2008. Published under Career Hunting. No Comments.
Keep a master resume on hand at all times. It lists your name and contact information at the top, then other information under the headings of Career Objective, Education and Training, Work History, and Career Highlights. Some job seekers also include References. Later when you tailor the master resume for a particular employer, you will keep only the most relevant data for the position you seek.
The career objective is always a single statement related to the job you are applying for. A hopeful sports reporter, for example, might write, “My aim is to develop must-read sports stories that will appeal to avid and casual fans alike.” The completed resume, clean and simple in appearance, should be no more than two pages long. It should appear in easy-to-read type such as 12-point Arial or Times Roman.
The cover letter is more important than the resume. After listing your name and contact information at the top, begin the body of the letter by naming the position you seek and telling how you learned of it. Then explain why you think you are a good candidate. Tell what excites you about working for the company or organization, and finish with a thank you for the employer’s time and consideration. Edit your letter until everything fits easily into one page, and it’s ready to go.