It is also a good idea to tell the reader how you heard about the position particularly if you are applying as the result of information other than a recruitment ad such as from reading a website or say on a tip off from a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.

The information you provide in the cover letter should be information that is not supplied in your resume. The cover letter’s role is to entice the reader to take a serious look at your resume. If anything in your cover letter is repeated will be seen as redundant, it is likely to be off putting to your busy reader.

Always talk about what you can offer the employer, do not be self serving and talk about what you want from the company. Guess what, they at this stage of the process do not care about you, they just want their needs satisfied.

Using a “generic” cover letter is useless other than perhaps a basic template to get you started. As with your resume each letter needs to talk about the specific position (based on what was in the employment ad) that addresses the “wants” of the employer.

The cover letter must contain a statement as to when you will contact them for an appointment. Typically cover letters use the old phrase “I look forward to hearing from you”, this must be avoided. It is important that you take the initiative on setting the time and date for the next contact. You should finish with,… “I will contact you on (the date 7 days from sending date) so we can arrange for an interview”.

Always address your cover letter to the person and title that is shown in the ad. If they don’t state who the letter is to go to ring up and find out.

Use friendly/formal language, nothing too gushy, overly emotive or flowery. Don’t get into long winded highly descriptive explanations, of what you have done in the past, keep it short concise and punchy. You cannot however sound boastful.

Make sure there are no “typos” or grammatical errors. Have someone who is well educated proof read your cover letter.

Finally, not bothering to send a cover letter at all means you have wasted your time sending your resume, A cover letter is a must.

Great resume sample interactive form for free at resume sample.

Remember… to even have your resume read you will need to ensure it has some/all of the keywords the advertiser is looking for so you must answer the job specs in your resume.

Hope you find the article and resume examples helpful and best of luck in your job search. Persistence pays and being positive is the only way to succeed.

Please note that if you use the original resume example you can send me a backup just in case you lose your original resume. So far over 5000 resume writers have done so.

2. Take what you may need: If the company/organization has asked for specific items make sure you have them prepared well in advance e.g. drivers license, certificates of accomplishment, copies of diplomas/degrees, your work portfolio, extra resume copies, writing pad and pen etc.

3. How will to dress: If you do a dry run try to see how others in the company are dressed. If you are going to just punt it (which I don’t recommend) opt to dress a little up rather than down. Clean your shoes well and iron your shirt.

4. Personal grooming: Be clean and tidy at all times whilst looking for work. Having a haircut or trimming your beard the morning before an interview is not a good idea. Its not so much the time it may take, its just that the fresh cut look makes you look at best, a bit too anxious and eager to impress and a phony “I only look like this for interviews” at worst. Trim your fingernail and make sure they’re clean.

5. Mobile Phones: The best way to destroy any chance you have of getting through an interview with a positive impression is to have your mobile phone ring, you must turn it off.

When you get through the list perhaps you could take a look at the Sample Resume Template | Resume Form with Examples if you are still writing your resume.

To continue the list…

6. Email Address: If you have a non commercial email address e.g. spunky1234, lilabner5678, cutie_xyz, godzilla.thegreat or any other similar get a new one that is just your name or as close to it as you can get.

7.  Prepare Some Questions to Ask: Research the company you are being interviewed by and figure out some sensible questions to ask about how the company operates.

Some good examples: How are promotions decided on seniority or performance? Who will I report to and how long have they been here? How many others work in the department I will be employed in? What are the prospects for growth and advancement? What do you think is the best thing about working here? Beware… Do not ask questions such as: “What does the company do?” You should know a lot about the company from your pre-interview research.

8. Practice Answers to Likely Questions: The internet (including my site orglearn) is full of lists of typical questions asked by interviewers. Get a list, practice some answers and have someone sensible, whom you trust, to do a dummy interview and review your answers. The more times you can do this the better.

9. Referees: Obviously ask referees for permission to use them and give the heads up on what qualities the hiring company is looking for so they mention it when asked about you. If the employers ad says “reliable” they should use the word reliable when giving you a reference. Update them before each interview.

10. The first meeting with the interviewer: Have clean dry hands, offer a firm one handed handshake, nothing too limp or too hard, look the interviewer in the eye and smile. One important trick, be standing when the interviewer arrives, do not sit down, a good idea is to read anything on the office wall, vision statement, mission statement or companies values etc. If offered coffee don’t take it, you may spill it in your attempt to greet interviewer. Don’t smoke before the interview and brush you teeth about twenty to thirty minutes before. Check your hair and the state of your dress. If you are comfortable in doing so pay a sincere compliment when greeting the interviewer… nice office, impressive factory or perhaps I like the company vision statement, particularly if it is on the wall.

1. Other than going for a job are there any other reasons to do a resume?

A resume can be quite helpful in many ways. It can:

•    help you remember important details when talking over the phone or in an interview
•    be used as a networking tool on a “just in case something comes up basis” etc
•    used as a reference sheet when filling in application forms
•    let you see what you have to offer employers either now or in the future
•    remind you of he personal development issues you should address
•    writing or updating your resume at least once a years is a great way to assess your progress from a career or commercial point of view

2. Why can’t the information be part of an application/cover letter?

A cover letter needs get to the point (preferably in the first ten words) and its main purpose is to sell you and that you’re an exciting prospect who’s resume is worth reading.

3. Is it better to have a typed, or handwritten resume?

Today for most of us there is access to a computer and it will always be preferable to have a ‘typed’ resume. If you do need to do a handwritten resume remember “neatness and presentation counts”.

4. Should I sign my resume?

No it is better not to sign your resume, its mainly because it is just not and ‘accepted’ practice

5. How long should a resume be?

This an argument that goes on and on, from what I have seen one to three pages are best. A the temptation to use very small fonts in an attempt cram in more information. Blank spaces appropriately used are from a presentation point of view more appealing than a crammed ‘mess’.

6. Should you change your resume to suit a particular job?

Yes always yes yes yes. All resumes need to reflect the skills and competencies that the employer is looking for. see my many other blog posts on this topic. If you write a “master”  or sample resume you can adjust it with each application’s job requirements. don’t however get a bit lazy and send out one that is just your generic sample resume.

If you have any other questions regarding resumes please ask them in the comments section and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Here is a link to my Sample Resume | Resume Template page where you can practice writing your resume. Yes its free!

The “orglearn” site in addition to career success, management, leadership and teamwork articles provides information on how to write job resumes to match different employer requirements, resume templates and resume statement examples for you to use to when setting out your skills and competencies. This approach has been take as a one off sample resume can be too restrictive and because resumes and cover letters need to be tailored to each employers specific requirements. There are also some sample phrases that can of creating a section on the scope of the positions you have held in the past.

Hope you find the new resume information valuable.

By the way you may wish to visit the original Sample Resume | Resume Blank | Resume Form | Resume Examples | Resume Sample page to fill in the free online blank resume form (even if you’re not actively looking for a job), which is designed as a handy self-analysis to evaluate the commercial realities of what you have to offer current or potential employers.

These are questions asked by Phil Rosenberg of “reCareered” sometime back, the answers are however probably even more pertinent in today’s business climate. I receive many resumes on my free resume form page and I am astounded by the lack of understanding that most resume writers have about the purpose of their resume and how a resume needs to be presented.

Phil’s main points:

FACT: ‘IF your resume gets seen by human eyes (97% get pre-screened by a database search), you have an average 15 seconds to capture the reader’s attention.’

So how do you grab your reader’s attention? Write about what is important to them. [You need to read the advertisement and match what you offer to what the ad and employer are seeking!]

FACT: “Most resumes don’t address an employers’ problems? Most are written for the job seekers own pride or ego.” [My own research unfortunately bears this out, even when the advice on my free blank resume form specifically states what bad practice it is.]

Phil then asks: “Do you think it matters much to your audience what you are most proud of? Will your reader care enough to read your resume in detail to get an idea of who you are and what you can do? Or does your audience care more about rapid solutions to their problems?”

If you want even half a chance at getting an interview you will need to heed Phil’s advice.

So: WRITE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE – the hiring manager.

What’s important to hiring managers? Hiring “people who can solve their problems without much ramp-up time or training.”

The full original article is at:

http://www.recareered.blogspot.com/2008/02/your-resumes-audience-cheers-or-silence.html

ONE MORE TIME “Please for your own sake remember if you ‘write your resume to solve an employer’s problems you’re likely to get interviews. Discuss how you can an solve employer’s problems in an interview, and you may even receive a job offer’

ps from Yahoo hotjobs: (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles)

What to leave off your resume:

The Unquantifiable Accomplishment

e.g. “I am the most talented employee my company has ever had.”

The Not-So-Notable Accomplishment

e.g. “I get along with coworkers.”

Offbeat Accomplishment are also a waste of space:

e.g. “Set record for eating 45 eggs in two minutes.”

“Make sure any accomplishments you place on your resume will impress a potential employer. Your ability to do average work or fulfill the most basic requirements of a job does not warrant special mention.”

Ric (orglearn) **Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

While you’re here and this post is fresh in your mind take a look at the free blank resume form and perhaps start to build yourself a better resume!

Applying for a job, resume sin number 1. Not including a cover letter with your resume. Obvious really!

Resume sin number 2. Including an objective statement. “Point blank objectives are bad form.”

Sin number 3. “Use headings like profile and career summary versus a powerful sales pitch.” Well I think the writer means the content needs to be a “powerful sales pitch”

Number 4. ‘Leaving out industry specific keywords’. A deadly sin indeed!

and finally… resume sin number 5. Small (big?) mistakes or grammatical errors. ‘Have someone [intelligent] review your resume’.

Read the full article at:

http://www.careerrocketeer.com/2009/09/5-best-ways-to-land-your-resume-in.html

Ric (orglearn) **Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!

To quote the writer:

“As organisations (or organizations if you prefer) become more sophisticated, they start using CV reading software and web sites that filter us out long before a human even reads the CV. We need to learn these techniques to give us an edge over other candidates. This is a little like getting a website Google friendly. This means using key words. For example, using “competency” in your CV as a description is fine but if the software is looking for “competencies” your CV will be rejected. Software is stupid. It can only look for what it has been told to look for. Another good example of this is “training and development” and “learning and development”; a human looking at these will know that in many organisations these mean the same thing – software does not. carefully look through job adverts and look for the current appropriate language to use and include.”

Now this was the really good resume or CV (if your not in the USA) writing tip:

“The most successful candidates now include a list of keywords on the resume / CV. This can be a small section at the end of the resume / CV. Your keywords section should contain the types of words that recruiters might be looking for in your industry. This way if you do not cover all the bases in the main resume / CV the keyword list will contain them. Also, in the same way search engines look for key words and word density, some software looks for key word frequency – so having this helps your resume / CV to be seen.”

http://rapidbi.com/management/2009/09/the-perfect-resume-cv-to-get-you-through-to-interview/

Whether you use the term “resume” or “curriculum vitae” (depending on your local traditions) I think you must always include a section on keywords. Read the rest of the blog this is not the only good advice the writer gives, this is however a great resume form or format tip.

Ric (orglearn) While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!

* Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

One issue that seems to be overlooked by many is their email address. Now for personal correspondence your email address, or the style of your email address, is probably relatively immaterial. This is not the case I suggest for those seeking employment. Strange or frivolous email addresses can leave the recruiter wondering about the seriousness  or maturity of the owners. On this website there is a free blank resume form with the option to send the document to me for backup and I receive between eight to fifteen resumes a day. Here are some of the email address examples (slightly changed to protect the owners) to give you some examples.

sillyoneme, igotitall, bigboy, godwoman, thedawg, footballfan, clumbsy

As I say the names have been slightly changed to protect the innocent (guilty) however they were all listed as contact addresses on resumes. Can I suggest that if you are seriously seeking employment for something other than a comedian you take a look at your email address and if it is not appropriate set up one that is.

I mean would you consider hiring into your serious business someone known as “iwantmoney@….”

A) In screening the resume the points which I ‘take care of’ particularly would be:

1) Education qualification required for the job

2)Relevant experience [I assume in line with ad specs]

3) Job stability – for me which is very important criteria

4) Location [particularly if there is no relocation package offered]

B) While screening resume, I look for three things – education, experience and age. In my view if these three parameters match with the requirement, you have a relevant candidate and you may go ahead and read the rest of resume for more details.

C) Structure and Relevence

1. The professional structure of the resume for the same reason that the candidate is not physically present and as such a resume is a proxy for him. The better the presentation the easier it is for me to have a glimpse into the candidate’s professionalism.

2. Secondly I would seek for an alignment between the job profile, the special and general skill set that is required for the best performance of the job offered.

3. The personal qualities of the candidate i.e. his enthusiasm and willing to go extra mile. Therein the “value-clarification” on the part of the candidate is something that will attract my attention. The more we are value-driven to do something the more we achieve in life.

And a current (2nd qtr 09) concern…

D] “Unfortunately, the primary force that rules many employment decisions is the *fear of making a hiring mistake *.  In these tough economic times, that’s why so few in the hiring arena take a chance on somebody.  They believe if they don’t get everything right about a hire, then it’ll be their jobs on the line come next layoff.”

Ric-orglearn for a free blank resume, sample resume, resume template, resume form to fill in online with positive statement examples!

Resumes tip B: “Six Ways to Ruin Your Resume”

Article – Greg Schaffer, Computerworld

“…and less than half have made the cut. Although I rejected some candidates because of their lack of experience (or, rather, their lack of demonstrated required experience), others had errors in their application packages that lowered their ranking — errors that could have been easily corrected.”

The rest is at the link below and…

It is a resume writers “MUST READ” —>

www.cio.com/article/print/489104  <–

Ric orglearn cover letter resume form, free blank resume